Water hardness

EX11 Ottery St Mary

Near or below the UK average. Limescale builds slowly.

At 64 ppm, Ottery St Mary ranks near the UK's softest water areas — compare it against the hardest areas.

Slightly Hard 64 ppm South West South West Water
Your reading
64
parts per million
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very hard
0100200300400+

What this means for your home

Based on 64 ppm in Ottery St Mary (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
£4–6
per year
Worth it?
No
at 64 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 Ottery St Mary?

A verdict and running-cost estimate based on EX11's 64 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 41.9 days
Salt running cost
£4–6
per year (~13 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 64 ppm: negligible: appliances reach full expected life. Sized for a 4-person home; regenerates roughly every 42 days (estimate). Figures are conservative estimates and vary with household size and usage.

Test Your Water in Ottery St Mary

At 64 ppm, your water is slightly hard. A home testing kit lets you verify the exact hardness 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.

View on Amazon
Water quality details

Hardness data for EX11

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

Hardness measurements

Parts per million (ppm CaCO₃)64
Degrees Clark (°Clark)4.5
Degrees French (°fH)6.4
Degrees German (°dH)3.6
Calcium (mg/L Ca²⁺)26

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 Ottery St Mary

EX10
Sidmouth
63ppm
Slightly Hard
EX12
Seaton
65ppm
Slightly Hard
EX13
Axminster
66ppm
Slightly Hard
FAQ

Common questions about EX11

What is the water hardness in EX11 Ottery St Mary?
The water in EX11 Ottery St Mary has a hardness level of 64 ppm (parts per million) calcium carbonate, classified as slightly hard. This is 143 ppm below the UK national average of 207 ppm.
Which water company supplies EX11?
EX11 Ottery St Mary is supplied by South West Water. South West Water serves the South West region.
Is the water in EX11 safe to drink?
Yes. Slightly Hard water at 64 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 EX11?
At 64 ppm, the water in EX11 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 64 ppm water hardness mean?
64 ppm means there are 64 parts per million of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water. This is equivalent to 4.5 Clark degrees, 3.6 German degrees, or 6.4 French degrees. Water above 180 ppm is generally considered hard.
What size water softener do I need in EX11?
For a typical 4-person home at 64 ppm, a 24,000 grain softener is a sensible size. It would regenerate roughly every 41.9 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 EX11?
At 64 ppm, expect to use about 13 kg of salt a year, costing roughly £4–£6/year. Water is soft to moderate, so limescale and soap costs are low and a softener rarely pays back.

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