Water hardness in Bristol (South West England): 20.5°fH, quality index 6/10. Official UK data.
✓ Compliant with DWI standardsBristol has moderately hard water (20.5°fH). Limescale builds up over time. A pitcher filter and monthly descaling will protect your appliances.
UK tap water is subject to the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018, overseen by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). The sanitary compliance indicator shows whether the latest official analyses found any non-conformities on parameters such as bacteriology, nitrates, pesticides or heavy metals.
The TH (Total Hardness) measures calcium and magnesium content. Below 10°fH: soft. From 10 to 20: moderately soft. From 20 to 27: slightly hard. From 27 to 35: hard. Above 35: very hard. Bristol's water is hard at 20.5°fH.
Maintenance budget: ~£57/year
For 2 persons, water at 20.5°f deposits around 1.0 kg of limescale per year in your appliances. Estimated cost in descalers, salt and filters.
Calcium: ~33 mg per litre
Your water provides 33 mg of calcium/L, which is 3% of the recommended daily intake.
Filter jug: cartridge every 6 months
At 20.5°f, replace the cartridge every 6 months. An under-sink filter lasts 6 to 12 months.
The tap water hardness in Bristol is 20.5°fH, corresponding to hard water. In comparison, the England average in our dataset is 18.1°fH and the South West England region average is 26.22°fH.
Yes. The water in Bristol meets DWI sanitary standards (Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018). The hardness of 20.5°fH affects taste and appliance maintenance, not safety. Water in Bristol is supplied and monitored by Bristol Water.
At 20.5°fH, a water softener is optional in Bristol. Regular descaling (every 1 to 3 months depending on appliance) and a pitcher filter are sufficient to limit limescale buildup.
A hardness of 20.5°fH corresponds to approximately 33 mg of calcium per litre, or 3% of the recommended daily intake. This calcium is not dangerous; hard water can even contribute to your daily calcium intake.
Water in Bristol is supplied by Bristol Water. Data source: Bristol Water 2025.
Data: Bristol Water official zone-level hardness reports (2025). Values verified via DWI drinking water quality database.