Water hardness

PL26 St Austell

Near or below the UK average. Limescale builds slowly.

At 83 ppm, St Austell ranks near the UK's softest water areas — compare it against the hardest areas.

Slightly Hard 83 ppm South West South West Water
Your reading
83
parts per million
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very hard
0100200300400+

What this means for your home

Based on 83 ppm in St Austell (slightly hard water).

  • Minor limescale may appear in kettles over time
  • Soap lathers reasonably well
  • Appliances generally unaffected
  • Good balance of mineral taste
Heat loss
1%
Minimal scaling
Softener salt
£5–8
per year
Worth it?
No
at 83 ppm
Suggested for slightly hard water
Filter jug (optional)
Mainly a taste preference, limescale won't be a real issue here.
From £20
Maintenance habits
Routine descaling once or twice a year is plenty.
Free
Softening

Should you soften the water in St Austell?

A verdict and running-cost estimate based on PL26's 83 ppm reading, for a typical 4-person household.

Softener optional

Water is soft to moderate, so limescale and soap costs are low and a softener rarely pays back.

Recommended size
24k
grain capacity, regenerates ~every 32.3 days
Salt running cost
£5–8
per year (~17 kg salt)
Limescale
1%
est. heater efficiency loss. Minimal scaling
Soap saving
Minimal
Water is already soft, so there is little detergent saving from softening.

Appliance impact at 83 ppm: negligible: appliances reach full expected life. Sized for a 4-person home; regenerates roughly every 32 days (estimate). Figures are conservative estimates and vary with household size and usage.

Water quality details

Hardness data for PL26

Sourced from South West Water's published water-quality reports and public records.

Hardness measurements

Parts per million (ppm CaCO₃)83
Degrees Clark (°Clark)5.8
Degrees French (°fH)8.3
Degrees German (°dH)4.7
Calcium (mg/L Ca²⁺)33

Supplier and area

Water supplier South West Water
Region South West
County Devon
Hardness band Slightly Hard
UK average 207 ppm
Visit South West Water page
Official source
South West Water water-hardness report

Most of the region is soft water, except East Devon; use the postcode lookup on this page to find your address's specific water quality.

Nearby

Other areas near St Austell

PL25
St Austell
82ppm
Slightly Hard
PL27
Wadebridge
84ppm
Slightly Hard
PL28
Padstow
85ppm
Slightly Hard
FAQ

Common questions about PL26

What is the water hardness in PL26 St Austell?
The water in PL26 St Austell has a hardness level of 83 ppm (parts per million) calcium carbonate, classified as slightly hard. This is 124 ppm below the UK national average of 207 ppm.
Which water company supplies PL26?
PL26 St Austell is supplied by South West Water. South West Water serves the South West region.
Is the water in PL26 safe to drink?
Yes. Slightly Hard water at 83 ppm is safe to drink. Water hardness affects taste and can cause limescale, but it is not a health risk. In fact, hard water contains beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
How can I reduce water hardness in PL26?
At 83 ppm, the water in PL26 is slightly hard and unlikely to cause significant issues. A jug filter can improve taste, but a water softener is generally not necessary.
What does 83 ppm water hardness mean?
83 ppm means there are 83 parts per million of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water. This is equivalent to 5.8 Clark degrees, 4.7 German degrees, or 8.3 French degrees. Water above 180 ppm is generally considered hard.
What size water softener do I need in PL26?
For a typical 4-person home at 83 ppm, a 24,000 grain softener is a sensible size. It would regenerate roughly every 32.3 days. Larger households or higher daily use need a bigger unit. These figures are conservative estimates.
How much does it cost to run a water softener in PL26?
At 83 ppm, expect to use about 17 kg of salt a year, costing roughly £5–£8/year. Water is soft to moderate, so limescale and soap costs are low and a softener rarely pays back.

Your St Austell water action plan

Enter your email for the short list of things worth doing at 83 ppm, and the upgrades you can safely ignore.

Check another postcode

Compare hardness across areas before moving or buying a softener.