Water hardness

WN3 Wigan

Near or below the UK average. Limescale builds slowly.

At 114 ppm, Wigan ranks near the UK's softest water areas — compare it against the hardest areas.

Slightly Hard 114 ppm North West United Utilities
Your reading
114
parts per million
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very hard
0100200300400+

What this means for your home

Based on 114 ppm in Wigan (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
4%
Light scaling
Softener salt
£7–11
per year
Worth it?
No
at 114 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 Wigan?

A verdict and running-cost estimate based on WN3's 114 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 23.5 days
Salt running cost
£7–11
per year (~23 kg salt)
Limescale
4%
est. heater efficiency loss. Light scaling
Soap saving
Low
Some saving: expect to use slightly less soap and detergent.

Appliance impact at 114 ppm: slight: minor descaling extends kettle/boiler life. Sized for a 4-person home; regenerates roughly every 23 days (estimate). Figures are conservative estimates and vary with household size and usage.

Water quality details

Hardness data for WN3

Sourced from United Utilities's published water-quality reports and public records.

Hardness measurements

Parts per million (ppm CaCO₃)114
Degrees Clark (°Clark)8
Degrees French (°fH)11.4
Degrees German (°dH)6.4
Calcium (mg/L Ca²⁺)46

Supplier and area

Water supplier United Utilities
Region North West
County Greater Manchester
Hardness band Slightly Hard
UK average 207 ppm
Visit United Utilities page
Official source
United Utilities Water Ltd water-hardness report

Read the hardness explainer (most North West water is soft or very soft) and download the factsheet for conversion tables.

Nearby

Other areas near Wigan

WN2
Wigan
113ppm
Slightly Hard
WN4
Wigan
115ppm
Slightly Hard
WN5
Wigan
116ppm
Slightly Hard
FAQ

Common questions about WN3

What is the water hardness in WN3 Wigan?
The water in WN3 Wigan has a hardness level of 114 ppm (parts per million) calcium carbonate, classified as slightly hard. This is 93 ppm below the UK national average of 207 ppm.
Which water company supplies WN3?
WN3 Wigan is supplied by United Utilities. United Utilities serves the North West region.
Is the water in WN3 safe to drink?
Yes. Slightly Hard water at 114 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 WN3?
At 114 ppm, the water in WN3 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 114 ppm water hardness mean?
114 ppm means there are 114 parts per million of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water. This is equivalent to 8 Clark degrees, 6.4 German degrees, or 11.4 French degrees. Water above 180 ppm is generally considered hard.
What size water softener do I need in WN3?
For a typical 4-person home at 114 ppm, a 24,000 grain softener is a sensible size. It would regenerate roughly every 23.5 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 WN3?
At 114 ppm, expect to use about 23 kg of salt a year, costing roughly £7–£11/year. Water is soft to moderate, so limescale and soap costs are low and a softener rarely pays back.

Your Wigan water action plan

Enter your email for the short list of things worth doing at 114 ppm, and the upgrades you can safely ignore.

Check another postcode

Compare hardness across areas before moving or buying a softener.