270mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across E districts
Is East London a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the E postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 270 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 258 mg/L in E8 to 278 mg/L in E11, from 18 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 E 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E11 | Waltham Forest | 278 | very hard |
| E16 | Newham | 276 | very hard |
| E1 | Tower Hamlets | 273 | very hard |
| E2 | Tower Hamlets | 272 | very hard |
| E9 | Hackney | 272 | very hard |
| E15 | Newham | 271 | very hard |
| E20 | Newham | 270 | very hard |
| E6 | Newham | 270 | very hard |
| E14 | Tower Hamlets | 270 | very hard |
| E4* | Waltham Forest | 270 | very hard |
| E5 | Hackney | 270 | very hard |
| E12 | Newham | 270 | very hard |
| E13 | Newham | 269 | very hard |
| E3 | Tower Hamlets | 268 | very hard |
| E10 | Waltham Forest | 268 | very hard |
| E7 | Newham | 267 | very hard |
| E17 | Waltham Forest | 263 | very hard |
| E18 | Redbridge | 261 | very hard |
| E8 | Hackney | 258 | very hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 270 mg/L most E homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. A filter will not touch limescale; only a softener does.
- Free quotes
- Local installers
- No obligation
Check your own district first
The area figure is a median. Your district can sit anywhere between 258 and 278 mg/L.
Softener quotes for East London
At 270 mg/L most E homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. Free quotes from installers covering your postcode.
Request a free assessment and we'll come back to you with local installer options for your area.
100%
free, no obligation
shared only with your consent
Before you buy
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
- Water softener costUnit, fitting and salt, and how long the payback takes
- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
Questions about East London water
Is East London a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across E postcode districts is 270 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 19 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in East London?
Between 258 and 278 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 270. The hardest measured district is E11 at 278 mg/L and the softest is E8 at 258. 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 East London?
In most E homes a softener pays for itself: at 270 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 258 to 278 within the area.
Hardness as mg/L calcium carbonate from water company drinking-water tests and postcode checkers. See the UK hardness map for every area.