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tapwater

29mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across EH districts

Is Edinburgh a hard water area?

No. Tap water across the EH postcode area is soft, so limescale is not a problem here, with a median of 29 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 11 mg/L in EH45 to 108 mg/L in EH44, from 52 districts with their own water company reading and 2 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 EH 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.

DistrictAreamg/LHardness
EH44Scottish Borders108moderately soft
EH43Scottish Borders108moderately soft
EH40East Lothian68moderately soft
EH31East Lothian68moderately soft
EH42East Lothian68moderately soft
EH41East Lothian68moderately soft
EH39East Lothian68moderately soft
EH32East Lothian59soft
EH47West Lothian37soft
EH55West Lothian37soft
EH3City of Edinburgh31soft
EH12City of Edinburgh31soft
EH11City of Edinburgh31soft
EH1City of Edinburgh31soft
EH8City of Edinburgh31soft
EH9City of Edinburgh31soft
EH10City of Edinburgh31soft
EH2City of Edinburgh31soft
EH4City of Edinburgh31soft
EH16City of Edinburgh30soft
EH20Midlothian30soft
EH25Midlothian30soft
EH18Midlothian30soft
EH17City of Edinburgh30soft
EH15City of Edinburgh30soft
EH6*City of Edinburgh29soft
EH35East Lothian29soft
EH33East Lothian29soft
EH34East Lothian29soft
EH7*City of Edinburgh29soft
EH54West Lothian21soft
EH30City of Edinburgh21soft
EH48West Lothian21soft
EH29City of Edinburgh21soft
EH52West Lothian21soft
EH46Scottish Borders20soft
EH36East Lothian20soft
EH38Scottish Borders20soft
EH21East Lothian20soft
EH51Falkirk20soft
EH22Midlothian20soft
EH23Midlothian20soft
EH24Midlothian20soft
EH49West Lothian20soft
EH37Midlothian20soft
EH19Midlothian20soft
EH26Midlothian20soft
EH28City of Edinburgh18soft
EH27West Lothian18soft
EH53West Lothian18soft
EH5City of Edinburgh15soft
EH13City of Edinburgh15soft
EH14City of Edinburgh15soft
EH45Scottish Borders11soft

You do not need a softener in Edinburgh.

At 29 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 11 and 108 mg/L.

Nearby areas

Kirkcaldy 58Galashiels 60Motherwell 32Falkirk 17Glasgow 16Dundee 31

Questions about Edinburgh water

Is Edinburgh a hard water area?

No. The median hardness across EH postcode districts is 29 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is soft. 0% of the 54 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).

What is the water hardness in Edinburgh?

Between 11 and 108 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 29. The hardest measured district is EH44 at 108 mg/L and the softest is EH45 at 11. 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 Edinburgh?

Usually not. At a median of 29 mg/L limescale is a minor issue in Edinburgh. 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.