48mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across EX districts
Is Exeter a hard water area?
No. Tap water across the EX postcode area is soft, so limescale is not a problem here, with a median of 48 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 33 mg/L in EX34 to 236 mg/L in EX11, from 33 districts with their own water company reading.
- 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 EX district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| EX11 | East Devon | 236 | hard |
| EX14 | East Devon | 236 | hard |
| EX13 | East Devon | 214 | hard |
| EX12 | East Devon | 214 | hard |
| EX24 | East Devon | 214 | hard |
| EX10 | East Devon | 214 | hard |
| EX8 | East Devon | 188 | hard |
| EX9 | East Devon | 188 | hard |
| EX1 | Exeter | 71 | moderately soft |
| EX5 | East Devon | 71 | moderately soft |
| EX2 | Exeter | 71 | moderately soft |
| EX3 | Exeter | 71 | moderately soft |
| EX15 | Mid Devon | 59 | soft |
| EX16 | Mid Devon | 59 | soft |
| EX4 | Exeter | 56 | soft |
| EX17 | Mid Devon | 49 | soft |
| EX22 | Torridge | 48 | soft |
| EX23 | Cornwall | 48 | soft |
| EX35 | North Devon | 46 | soft |
| EX36 | North Devon | 46 | soft |
| EX32 | North Devon | 46 | soft |
| EX37 | North Devon | 46 | soft |
| EX21 | Torridge | 44 | soft |
| EX20 | West Devon | 44 | soft |
| EX39 | Torridge | 44 | soft |
| EX38 | Torridge | 44 | soft |
| EX6 | Teignbridge | 40 | soft |
| EX7 | Teignbridge | 40 | soft |
| EX31 | North Devon | 40 | soft |
| EX33 | North Devon | 40 | soft |
| EX19 | Torridge | 40 | soft |
| EX18 | Mid Devon | 40 | soft |
| EX34 | North Devon | 33 | soft |
You do not need a softener in Exeter.
At 48 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 33 and 236 mg/L.
Questions about Exeter water
Is Exeter a hard water area?
No. The median hardness across EX postcode districts is 48 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is soft. 24% of the 33 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Exeter?
Between 33 and 236 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 48. The hardest measured district is EX11 at 236 mg/L and the softest is EX34 at 33. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests.
Do I need a water softener in Exeter?
Usually not. At a median of 48 mg/L limescale is a minor issue in Exeter. 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.