All the water supplied by Bristol Water is hard. It’s how it reaches our sources from the environment. The hardness is completely natural; it’s simply as a result of the geography and geology of the area.
The fur, or limescale, on devices such as kettles is just evidence of the hard water. It’s caused by the presence of calcium bicarbonate in the water. When you boil the kettle, the calcium bicarbonate loses its carbon dioxide and reverts to a solid state – limescale.
The hardness of our water can be summed-up at two broad levels.
Total Hardness
(mg/l as Calcium Carbonate)
Hardness Clark (UK)
French
German
Majority of BW Customers
210-300
15-21
21-29
13-18
Frome Area
340
24
34
20
The information above should help you in setting-up machines like dishwashers that have in-built water softening devices. The figures are based on an average as hardness does vary slightly from month to month.
If you require any additional information about hardness or water quality in general, call 0845 702 3 797 during office hours or email: customer.services@bristolwater.co.uk
