120mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across DL districts
Is Darlington a hard water area?
No. Tap water across the DL postcode area is moderately hard, with some scale over time but rarely enough to need a softener, with a median of 120 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 70 mg/L in DL17 to 277 mg/L in DL9, from 16 districts with their own water company reading and 1 estimated from the area.
- Soft
- 0 to 60 mg/L
- Moderately soft
- 60 to 120 mg/L
- Slightly hard
- 120 to 180 mg/L
- Hard
- 180 to 200 mg/L
- Very hard
- 200 to 400 mg/L
Hardness by DL district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250. Districts marked with an asterisk take the area's median rather than a reading of their own.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| DL9 | North Yorkshire | 277 | very hard |
| DL7 | North Yorkshire | 258 | very hard |
| DL6 | North Yorkshire | 249 | hard |
| DL10 | North Yorkshire | 214 | hard |
| DL1 | Darlington | 168 | moderately hard |
| DL2 | Darlington | 168 | moderately hard |
| DL3 | Darlington | 168 | moderately hard |
| DL8 | North Yorkshire | 124 | moderately hard |
| DL11* | County Durham | 120 | moderately hard |
| DL14 | County Durham | 115 | moderately soft |
| DL5 | County Durham | 115 | moderately soft |
| DL4 | County Durham | 115 | moderately soft |
| DL12 | County Durham | 90 | moderately soft |
| DL13 | County Durham | 85 | moderately soft |
| DL15 | County Durham | 85 | moderately soft |
| DL16 | County Durham | 70 | moderately soft |
| DL17 | County Durham | 70 | moderately soft |
You do not need a softener in Darlington.
At 120 mg/L the practical effects are minor. If you notice anything, it is usually chlorine rather than hardness: a shower filter or a filter jug deals with that.
Check your exact postcode
The area figure is a median. Your district can sit anywhere between 70 and 277 mg/L.
Questions about Darlington water
Is Darlington a hard water area?
No. The median hardness across DL postcode districts is 120 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is moderately hard. 24% of the 17 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Darlington?
Between 70 and 277 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 120. The hardest measured district is DL9 at 277 mg/L and the softest is DL17 at 70. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests, with postcode-area estimates for districts that have no reading of their own.
Do I need a water softener in Darlington?
Usually not. At a median of 120 mg/L limescale is a minor issue in Darlington. A filter jug or a shower filter covers the everyday effects. Only districts at 180 mg/L or above are worth a softener quote.
Hardness as mg/L calcium carbonate from water company drinking-water tests and postcode checkers. See the UK hardness map for every area.