Water hardness

OL10 Heywood

Near or below the UK average. Limescale builds slowly.

At 63 ppm, Heywood ranks near the UK's softest water areas — compare it against the hardest areas.

Slightly Hard 63 ppm North West United Utilities
Your reading
63
parts per million
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very hard
0100200300400+

What this means for your home

Based on 63 ppm in Heywood (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 63 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 Heywood?

A verdict and running-cost estimate based on OL10's 63 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 42.5 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 63 ppm: negligible: appliances reach full expected life. Sized for a 4-person home; regenerates roughly every 43 days (estimate). Figures are conservative estimates and vary with household size and usage.

Test Your Water in Heywood

At 63 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 OL10

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

Hardness measurements

Parts per million (ppm CaCO₃)63
Degrees Clark (°Clark)4.4
Degrees French (°fH)6.3
Degrees German (°dH)3.5
Calcium (mg/L Ca²⁺)25

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 Heywood

OL9
Oldham
54ppm
Soft
OL11
Rochdale
64ppm
Slightly Hard
OL12
Rochdale
65ppm
Slightly Hard
FAQ

Common questions about OL10

What is the water hardness in OL10 Heywood?
The water in OL10 Heywood has a hardness level of 63 ppm (parts per million) calcium carbonate, classified as slightly hard. This is 144 ppm below the UK national average of 207 ppm.
Which water company supplies OL10?
OL10 Heywood is supplied by United Utilities. United Utilities serves the North West region.
Is the water in OL10 safe to drink?
Yes. Slightly Hard water at 63 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 OL10?
At 63 ppm, the water in OL10 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 63 ppm water hardness mean?
63 ppm means there are 63 parts per million of calcium carbonate dissolved in the water. This is equivalent to 4.4 Clark degrees, 3.5 German degrees, or 6.3 French degrees. Water above 180 ppm is generally considered hard.
What size water softener do I need in OL10?
For a typical 4-person home at 63 ppm, a 24,000 grain softener is a sensible size. It would regenerate roughly every 42.5 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 OL10?
At 63 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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