271mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across N districts
Is North London a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the N postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 271 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 260 mg/L in N4 to 330 mg/L in N18, from 22 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 N district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| N18 | Enfield | 330 | very hard |
| N20 | Barnet | 316 | very hard |
| N13 | Enfield | 315 | very hard |
| N3 | Barnet | 303 | very hard |
| N22 | Haringey | 295 | very hard |
| N21 | Enfield | 289 | very hard |
| N2 | Barnet | 283 | very hard |
| N9 | Enfield | 281 | very hard |
| N12 | Barnet | 276 | very hard |
| N14 | Enfield | 274 | very hard |
| N17 | Haringey | 272 | very hard |
| N7 | Islington | 269 | very hard |
| N16 | Hackney | 269 | very hard |
| N19 | Islington | 269 | very hard |
| N11 | Enfield | 268 | very hard |
| N1 | Islington | 267 | very hard |
| N10 | Haringey | 265 | very hard |
| N5 | Islington | 264 | very hard |
| N6 | Haringey | 264 | very hard |
| N8 | Haringey | 264 | very hard |
| N15 | Haringey | 263 | very hard |
| N4 | Haringey | 260 | very hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 271 mg/L most N 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 260 and 330 mg/L.
Softener quotes for North London
At 271 mg/L most N 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 North London water
Is North London a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across N postcode districts is 271 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 22 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in North London?
Between 260 and 330 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 271. The hardest measured district is N18 at 330 mg/L and the softest is N4 at 260. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests.
Do I need a water softener in North London?
In most N homes a softener pays for itself: at 271 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 260 to 330 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.