253mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across OX districts
Is Oxford a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the OX postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 253 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 234 mg/L in OX29 to 288 mg/L in OX7, from 25 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 OX district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| OX7 | West Oxfordshire | 288 | very hard |
| OX16 | Cherwell | 288 | very hard |
| OX33 | South Oxfordshire | 288 | very hard |
| OX27 | Cherwell | 281 | very hard |
| OX3 | Oxford | 281 | very hard |
| OX13 | Vale of White Horse | 281 | very hard |
| OX26 | Cherwell | 258 | very hard |
| OX12 | Vale of White Horse | 258 | very hard |
| OX2 | Oxford | 258 | very hard |
| OX11 | South Oxfordshire | 253 | very hard |
| OX49 | South Oxfordshire | 253 | very hard |
| OX1 | Oxford | 253 | very hard |
| OX25 | Cherwell | 253 | very hard |
| OX10 | South Oxfordshire | 245 | hard |
| OX44 | South Oxfordshire | 245 | hard |
| OX18 | West Oxfordshire | 245 | hard |
| OX14 | South Oxfordshire | 241 | hard |
| OX4 | Oxford | 241 | hard |
| OX28 | West Oxfordshire | 241 | hard |
| OX17 | West Northamptonshire | 240 | hard |
| OX9 | South Oxfordshire | 236 | hard |
| OX39 | South Oxfordshire | 236 | hard |
| OX5 | Cherwell | 234 | hard |
| OX15 | Cherwell | 234 | hard |
| OX29 | West Oxfordshire | 234 | hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 253 mg/L most OX 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 234 and 288 mg/L.
Softener quotes for Oxford
At 253 mg/L most OX 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.
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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 Oxford water
Is Oxford a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across OX postcode districts is 253 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 25 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Oxford?
Between 234 and 288 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 253. The hardest measured district is OX7 at 288 mg/L and the softest is OX29 at 234. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests.
Do I need a water softener in Oxford?
In most OX homes a softener pays for itself: at 253 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 234 to 288 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.