153mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across NE districts
Is Newcastle upon Tyne a hard water area?
No. Tap water across the NE postcode area is moderately hard, with some scale over time but rarely enough to need a softener, with a median of 153 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 68 mg/L in NE49 to 225 mg/L in NE3, from 57 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 NE 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NE3 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 225 | hard |
| NE45 | Northumberland | 205 | hard |
| NE42 | Northumberland | 193 | hard |
| NE44 | Northumberland | 193 | hard |
| NE1 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 193 | hard |
| NE41 | Northumberland | 193 | hard |
| NE40 | Gateshead | 193 | hard |
| NE43 | Northumberland | 193 | hard |
| NE2 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 183 | hard |
| NE7 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 183 | hard |
| NE8 | Gateshead | 180 | hard |
| NE10 | Gateshead | 180 | hard |
| NE18 | Northumberland | 180 | hard |
| NE4 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 178 | moderately hard |
| NE70 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE66 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE68 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE65 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE69 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE67 | Northumberland | 168 | moderately hard |
| NE61 | Northumberland | 160 | moderately hard |
| NE63 | Northumberland | 160 | moderately hard |
| NE64 | Northumberland | 160 | moderately hard |
| NE9 | Gateshead | 160 | moderately hard |
| NE23 | Northumberland | 158 | moderately hard |
| NE12 | North Tyneside | 158 | moderately hard |
| NE27 | North Tyneside | 158 | moderately hard |
| NE16 | Gateshead | 153 | moderately hard |
| NE47* | Northumberland | 153 | moderately hard |
| NE11 | Gateshead | 153 | moderately hard |
| NE19* | Northumberland | 153 | moderately hard |
| NE5 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 150 | moderately hard |
| NE13 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 150 | moderately hard |
| NE15 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 150 | moderately hard |
| NE22 | Northumberland | 150 | moderately hard |
| NE62 | Northumberland | 150 | moderately hard |
| NE38 | Sunderland | 148 | moderately hard |
| NE37 | Sunderland | 148 | moderately hard |
| NE6 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 145 | moderately hard |
| NE28 | North Tyneside | 145 | moderately hard |
| NE25 | North Tyneside | 143 | moderately hard |
| NE26 | North Tyneside | 143 | moderately hard |
| NE24 | Northumberland | 143 | moderately hard |
| NE30 | North Tyneside | 143 | moderately hard |
| NE29 | North Tyneside | 140 | moderately hard |
| NE20 | Northumberland | 138 | moderately hard |
| NE71 | Northumberland | 135 | moderately hard |
| NE46 | Northumberland | 103 | moderately soft |
| NE17 | Gateshead | 90 | moderately soft |
| NE21 | Gateshead | 78 | moderately soft |
| NE39 | Gateshead | 78 | moderately soft |
| NE31 | South Tyneside | 70 | moderately soft |
| NE32 | South Tyneside | 70 | moderately soft |
| NE36 | South Tyneside | 70 | moderately soft |
| NE35 | South Tyneside | 70 | moderately soft |
| NE33 | South Tyneside | 68 | moderately soft |
| NE34 | South Tyneside | 68 | moderately soft |
| NE48 | Northumberland | 68 | moderately soft |
| NE49 | Northumberland | 68 | moderately soft |
You do not need a softener in Newcastle upon Tyne.
At 153 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 68 and 225 mg/L.
Questions about Newcastle upon Tyne water
Is Newcastle upon Tyne a hard water area?
No. The median hardness across NE postcode districts is 153 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is moderately hard. 22% of the 59 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Between 68 and 225 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 153. The hardest measured district is NE3 at 225 mg/L and the softest is NE49 at 68. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
Usually not. At a median of 153 mg/L limescale is a minor issue in Newcastle upon Tyne. 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.