North West England · Water company

United Utilities Hardness

Average 77 ppm across 242 postcodes served.

  • Range 34–142 ppm
  • Region North West England
  • Postcodes 242
Company average
77
ppm CaCO₃
Slightly Hard
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very hard
0100200300400+
77
Avg ppm
34
Min ppm
142
Max ppm
242
Postcodes

About United Utilities

United Utilities serves around 7 million customers across the north west of England. Much of the supply comes from upland reservoirs in the Lake District and Pennines, producing predominantly soft water.

At 77 ppm on average, United Utilities ranks as slightly hard water. See how it compares across the UK in our 50 softest water areas ranking.

Worth reading: our water softener guide compares the options for United Utilities customers, and our limescale removal guide has quick fixes for kettles, taps, and boilers.

Distribution

Hardness Breakdown

92
Soft
(38%)
112
Slightly Hard
(46%)
38
Moderate
(16%)
0
Hard
(0%)
0
Very Hard
(0%)
All areas

Areas Served by United Utilities

Every postcode district, sorted by hardness.

Postcode Town Hardness PPM Level
SK9 Wilmslow
142
142 ppm Moderately Hard
SK8 Cheadle
141
141 ppm Moderately Hard
SK7 Stockport
140
140 ppm Moderately Hard
SK6 Stockport
139
139 ppm Moderately Hard
SK5 Stockport
138
138 ppm Moderately Hard
SK4 Stockport
137
137 ppm Moderately Hard
SK3 Stockport
136
136 ppm Moderately Hard
SK2 Stockport
135
135 ppm Moderately Hard
SK1 Stockport
134
134 ppm Moderately Hard
M50 Salford
133
133 ppm Moderately Hard
L19 Liverpool
131
131 ppm Moderately Hard
M19 Manchester
131
131 ppm Moderately Hard
PR9 Southport
131
131 ppm Moderately Hard
L18 Liverpool
130
130 ppm Moderately Hard
M18 Manchester
130
130 ppm Moderately Hard
PR8 Southport
130
130 ppm Moderately Hard
L17 Liverpool
129
129 ppm Moderately Hard
M17 Manchester
129
129 ppm Moderately Hard
PR7 Chorley
129
129 ppm Moderately Hard
L16 Liverpool
128
128 ppm Moderately Hard
M16 Manchester
128
128 ppm Moderately Hard
PR6 Chorley
128
128 ppm Moderately Hard
L15 Liverpool
127
127 ppm Moderately Hard
M15 Manchester
127
127 ppm Moderately Hard
PR5 Preston
127
127 ppm Moderately Hard
L14 Liverpool
126
126 ppm Moderately Hard
M14 Manchester
126
126 ppm Moderately Hard
PR4 Preston
126
126 ppm Moderately Hard
L13 Liverpool
125
125 ppm Moderately Hard
M13 Manchester
125
125 ppm Moderately Hard
PR3 Preston
125
125 ppm Moderately Hard
L12 Liverpool
124
124 ppm Moderately Hard
M12 Manchester
124
124 ppm Moderately Hard
PR2 Preston
124
124 ppm Moderately Hard
L11 Liverpool
123
123 ppm Moderately Hard
M11 Manchester
123
123 ppm Moderately Hard
PR1 Preston
123
123 ppm Moderately Hard
L10 Liverpool
122
122 ppm Moderately Hard
FY8 Lytham St Annes
119
119 ppm Slightly Hard
WN8 Skelmersdale
119
119 ppm Slightly Hard
FY7 Fleetwood
118
118 ppm Slightly Hard
WN7 Leigh
118
118 ppm Slightly Hard
FY6 Poulton Le Fylde
117
117 ppm Slightly Hard
WN6 Wigan
117
117 ppm Slightly Hard
FY5 Thornton Cleveleys
116
116 ppm Slightly Hard
WN5 Wigan
116
116 ppm Slightly Hard
FY4 Blackpool
115
115 ppm Slightly Hard
WN4 Wigan
115
115 ppm Slightly Hard
FY3 Blackpool
114
114 ppm Slightly Hard
WN3 Wigan
114
114 ppm Slightly Hard
CH66 Ellesmere Port
113
113 ppm Slightly Hard
FY2 Blackpool
113
113 ppm Slightly Hard
WN2 Wigan
113
113 ppm Slightly Hard
CH65 Ellesmere Port
112
112 ppm Slightly Hard
FY1 Blackpool
112
112 ppm Slightly Hard
WN1 Wigan
112
112 ppm Slightly Hard
CH64 Neston
111
111 ppm Slightly Hard
CH63 Wirral
110
110 ppm Slightly Hard
CH62 Wirral
109
109 ppm Slightly Hard
CH61 Wirral
108
108 ppm Slightly Hard
CH60 Wirral
107
107 ppm Slightly Hard
M46 Manchester
106
106 ppm Slightly Hard
M45 Manchester
105
105 ppm Slightly Hard
M44 Manchester
104
104 ppm Slightly Hard
M43 Manchester
103
103 ppm Slightly Hard
PR26 Leyland
102
102 ppm Slightly Hard
M41 Manchester
101
101 ppm Slightly Hard
PR25 Leyland
101
101 ppm Slightly Hard
L40 Ormskirk
100
100 ppm Slightly Hard
M40 Manchester
100
100 ppm Slightly Hard
LA23 Windermere
99
99 ppm Slightly Hard
SK23 High Peak
99
99 ppm Slightly Hard
LA22 Ambleside
98
98 ppm Slightly Hard
SK22 High Peak
98
98 ppm Slightly Hard
LA21 Coniston
97
97 ppm Slightly Hard
LA20 Broughton In Furness
96
96 ppm Slightly Hard
BB9 Nelson
87
87 ppm Slightly Hard
M9 Manchester
87
87 ppm Slightly Hard
BB8 Colne
86
86 ppm Slightly Hard
M8 Manchester
86
86 ppm Slightly Hard
BB7 Clitheroe
85
85 ppm Slightly Hard
M7 Salford
85
85 ppm Slightly Hard
BB6 Blackburn
84
84 ppm Slightly Hard
M6 Salford
84
84 ppm Slightly Hard
BB5 Accrington
83
83 ppm Slightly Hard
M5 Salford
83
83 ppm Slightly Hard
BB4 Rossendale
82
82 ppm Slightly Hard
M4 Manchester
82
82 ppm Slightly Hard
BB3 Darwen
81
81 ppm Slightly Hard
M3 Salford
81
81 ppm Slightly Hard
BB2 Blackburn
80
80 ppm Slightly Hard
M2 Manchester
80
80 ppm Slightly Hard
BB1 Blackburn
79
79 ppm Slightly Hard
M1 Manchester
79
79 ppm Slightly Hard
L39 Ormskirk
76
76 ppm Slightly Hard
L38 Liverpool
75
75 ppm Slightly Hard
M38 Manchester
75
75 ppm Slightly Hard
L37 Liverpool
74
74 ppm Slightly Hard
L36 Liverpool
73
73 ppm Slightly Hard
L35 Prescot
72
72 ppm Slightly Hard
LA19 Millom
72
72 ppm Slightly Hard
M35 Manchester
72
72 ppm Slightly Hard
BB18 Barnoldswick
71
71 ppm Slightly Hard
L34 Prescot
71
71 ppm Slightly Hard
LA18 Millom
71
71 ppm Slightly Hard
M34 Manchester
71
71 ppm Slightly Hard
L33 Liverpool
70
70 ppm Slightly Hard
LA17 Kirkby In Furness
70
70 ppm Slightly Hard
M33 Sale
70
70 ppm Slightly Hard
SK17 Buxton
70
70 ppm Slightly Hard
L32 Liverpool
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
LA16 Askam In Furness
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
M32 Manchester
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
OL16 Rochdale
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
SK16 Dukinfield
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
WA16 Knutsford
69
69 ppm Slightly Hard
L31 Liverpool
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
LA15 Dalton In Furness
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
M31 Manchester
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
OL15 Littleborough
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
SK15 Stalybridge
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
WA15 Altrincham
68
68 ppm Slightly Hard
L30 Bootle
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
LA14 Barrow In Furness
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
M30 Manchester
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
OL14 Todmorden
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
SK14 Hyde
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
WA14 Altrincham
67
67 ppm Slightly Hard
LA13 Barrow In Furness
66
66 ppm Slightly Hard
OL13 Bacup
66
66 ppm Slightly Hard
SK13 Glossop
66
66 ppm Slightly Hard
WA13 Lymm
66
66 ppm Slightly Hard
BB12 Burnley
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
CW12 Congleton
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
LA12 Ulverston
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
OL12 Rochdale
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
SK12 Stockport
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
WA12 Newton Le Willows
65
65 ppm Slightly Hard
BB11 Burnley
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
CW11 Sandbach
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
LA11 Grange Over Sands
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
OL11 Rochdale
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
SK11 Macclesfield
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
WA11 St Helens
64
64 ppm Slightly Hard
BB10 Burnley
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
CW10 Middlewich
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
LA10 Sedbergh
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
OL10 Heywood
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
SK10 Macclesfield
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
WA10 St Helens
63
63 ppm Slightly Hard
BL9 Bury
54
54 ppm Soft
CW9 Northwich
54
54 ppm Soft
L9 Liverpool
54
54 ppm Soft
LA9 Kendal
54
54 ppm Soft
OL9 Oldham
54
54 ppm Soft
WA9 St Helens
54
54 ppm Soft
BL8 Bury
53
53 ppm Soft
CW8 Northwich
53
53 ppm Soft
L8 Liverpool
53
53 ppm Soft
LA8 Kendal
53
53 ppm Soft
OL8 Oldham
53
53 ppm Soft
WA8 Widnes
53
53 ppm Soft
BL7 Bolton
52
52 ppm Soft
CW7 Winsford
52
52 ppm Soft
L7 Liverpool
52
52 ppm Soft
LA7 Milnthorpe
52
52 ppm Soft
OL7 Ashton Under Lyne
52
52 ppm Soft
WA7 Runcorn
52
52 ppm Soft
BL6 Bolton
51
51 ppm Soft
CW6 Tarporley
51
51 ppm Soft
L6 Liverpool
51
51 ppm Soft
LA6 Carnforth
51
51 ppm Soft
OL6 Ashton Under Lyne
51
51 ppm Soft
WA6 Frodsham
51
51 ppm Soft
BL5 Bolton
50
50 ppm Soft
CH49 Wirral
50
50 ppm Soft
CW5 Nantwich
50
50 ppm Soft
L5 Liverpool
50
50 ppm Soft
LA5 Carnforth
50
50 ppm Soft
OL5 Ashton Under Lyne
50
50 ppm Soft
WA5 Warrington
50
50 ppm Soft
BL4 Bolton
49
49 ppm Soft
CH48 Wirral
49
49 ppm Soft
CW4 Crewe
49
49 ppm Soft
L4 Liverpool
49
49 ppm Soft
LA4 Morecambe
49
49 ppm Soft
OL4 Oldham
49
49 ppm Soft
WA4 Warrington
49
49 ppm Soft
BL3 Bolton
48
48 ppm Soft
CH47 Wirral
48
48 ppm Soft
CW3 Crewe
48
48 ppm Soft
L3 Liverpool
48
48 ppm Soft
LA3 Morecambe
48
48 ppm Soft
OL3 Oldham
48
48 ppm Soft
WA3 Warrington
48
48 ppm Soft
BL2 Bolton
47
47 ppm Soft
CH46 Wirral
47
47 ppm Soft
CW2 Crewe
47
47 ppm Soft
L2 Liverpool
47
47 ppm Soft
LA2 Lancaster
47
47 ppm Soft
OL2 Oldham
47
47 ppm Soft
WA2 Warrington
47
47 ppm Soft
BL1 Bolton
46
46 ppm Soft
CH45 Wallasey
46
46 ppm Soft
CW1 Crewe
46
46 ppm Soft
L1 Liverpool
46
46 ppm Soft
LA1 Lancaster
46
46 ppm Soft
OL1 Oldham
46
46 ppm Soft
WA1 Warrington
46
46 ppm Soft
BL0 Bury
45
45 ppm Soft
CH44 Wallasey
45
45 ppm Soft
CH43 Prenton
44
44 ppm Soft
CH42 Birkenhead
43
43 ppm Soft
L29 Liverpool
43
43 ppm Soft
M29 Manchester
43
43 ppm Soft
CH41 Birkenhead
42
42 ppm Soft
CH8 Holywell
42
42 ppm Soft
L28 Liverpool
42
42 ppm Soft
M28 Manchester
42
42 ppm Soft
CH7 Mold
41
41 ppm Soft
L27 Liverpool
41
41 ppm Soft
M27 Manchester
41
41 ppm Soft
CH6 Flint
40
40 ppm Soft
L26 Liverpool
40
40 ppm Soft
M26 Manchester
40
40 ppm Soft
CH5 Deeside
39
39 ppm Soft
L25 Liverpool
39
39 ppm Soft
M25 Manchester
39
39 ppm Soft
CH4 Chester
38
38 ppm Soft
L24 Liverpool
38
38 ppm Soft
M24 Manchester
38
38 ppm Soft
CH3 Chester
37
37 ppm Soft
L23 Liverpool
37
37 ppm Soft
M23 Manchester
37
37 ppm Soft
CH2 Chester
36
36 ppm Soft
L22 Liverpool
36
36 ppm Soft
M22 Manchester
36
36 ppm Soft
CH1 Chester
35
35 ppm Soft
L21 Liverpool
35
35 ppm Soft
M21 Manchester
35
35 ppm Soft
L20 Bootle
34
34 ppm Soft
M20 Manchester
34
34 ppm Soft

Test Your Water on United Utilities

At 77 ppm on average, your water is slightly hard. A home testing kit lets you verify the exact hardness for your postcode and check for other contaminants.

TESPERT 16-in-1 Water Testing Kit

From ~£10

Home water test strips that check hardness, pH, chlorine, lead, and 12 other parameters. Results in around 60 seconds. 125 strips per pack.

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FAQ

Common questions about United Utilities water hardness

How do I check United Utilities hardness by postcode?
Enter your postcode in the checker on the WaterHard.uk homepage, or find your district in the table above. United Utilities serves 242 postcode districts across North West England, ranging from 34 to 142 ppm.
Is there a United Utilities hardness checker or map?
United Utilities publishes water quality data by postcode, but it can be scattered across PDF reports. WaterHard.uk compiles it into the searchable table above so you can find your district's reading in one place.
How hard is United Utilities water in my area?
It depends on your exact postcode. United Utilities supplies range from 34 ppm to 142 ppm, averaging 77 ppm (slightly hard) across 242 postcode districts in North West England. Use the table above to find your specific district.
Is United Utilities water hard or soft?
United Utilities averages 77 ppm, classified as slightly hard. Most households on United Utilities see little to no limescale build-up, though individual postcodes can vary, so check the table above for your district.

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