Water hardness in Cambridge (East of England): 30.72°fH, quality index 4/10. Official UK data.
✓ Compliant with DWI standardsCambridge has hard water (30.72°fH). Weekly descaling is recommended. A water softener becomes worthwhile above 30°fH.
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. Cambridge's water is very hard at 30.72°fH.
Maintenance budget: ~£86/year
For 2 persons, water at 30.72°f deposits around 1.5 kg of limescale per year in your appliances. Estimated cost in descalers, salt and filters.
Calcium: ~49 mg per litre
Your water provides 49 mg of calcium/L, which is 5% of the recommended daily intake.
Filter jug: cartridge every 4 months
At 30.72°f, replace the cartridge every 4 months. An under-sink filter lasts 6 to 12 months.
The tap water hardness in Cambridge is 30.72°fH, corresponding to very hard water. In comparison, the England average in our dataset is 18.1°fH and the East of England region average is 32.7°fH.
Yes. The water in Cambridge meets DWI sanitary standards (Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018). The hardness of 30.72°fH affects taste and appliance maintenance, not safety. Water in Cambridge is supplied and monitored by Cambridge Water.
With 30.72°fH, a water softener is a worthwhile investment in Cambridge. Limescale reduces the lifespan of boilers, washing machines and coffee makers and increases energy consumption by 10 to 15% per mm of scale. An anti-scale filter is a minimum at this hardness level.
A hardness of 30.72°fH corresponds to approximately 49 mg of calcium per litre, or 5% of the recommended daily intake. This calcium is not dangerous; hard water can even contribute to your daily calcium intake.
Water in Cambridge is supplied by Cambridge Water. Data source: Cambridge Water 2025.
Data: Cambridge Water official zone-level hardness reports (2025). Values verified via DWI drinking water quality database.