Water hardness in Guildford (South East England): 26.2°fH, quality index 5/10. Official UK data.
✓ Compliant with DWI standardsGuildford has moderately hard water (26.2°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. Guildford's water is hard at 26.2°fH.
Maintenance budget: ~£73/year
For 2 persons, water at 26.2°f deposits around 1.3 kg of limescale per year in your appliances. Estimated cost in descalers, salt and filters.
Calcium: ~42 mg per litre
Your water provides 42 mg of calcium/L, which is 4% of the recommended daily intake.
Filter jug: cartridge every 5 months
At 26.2°f, replace the cartridge every 5 months. An under-sink filter lasts 6 to 12 months.
The tap water hardness in Guildford is 26.2°fH, corresponding to hard water. In comparison, the England average in our dataset is 18.1°fH and the South East England region average is 26.9°fH.
Yes. The water in Guildford meets DWI sanitary standards (Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2018). The hardness of 26.2°fH affects taste and appliance maintenance, not safety. Water in Guildford is supplied and monitored by South East Water.
At 26.2°fH, a water softener is optional in Guildford. Regular descaling (every 1 to 3 months depending on appliance) and a pitcher filter are sufficient to limit limescale buildup.
A hardness of 26.2°fH corresponds to approximately 42 mg of calcium per litre, or 4% of the recommended daily intake. This calcium is not dangerous; hard water can even contribute to your daily calcium intake.
Water in Guildford is supplied by South East Water. Data source: South East Water 2025.
Data: South East Water official zone-level hardness reports (2025). Values verified via DWI drinking water quality database.