United Utilities Water: Soft at 34-142 ppm (2026)

United Utilities Water Hardness Summary

United Utilities water is slightly hard, averaging 77 ppm as calcium carbonate, ranging from 34 to 142 ppm across 242 postcode districts in North West England.

Average hardness	77 ppm (Slightly Hard)
Hardness range	34 to 142 ppm
Classification	Slightly Hard
Districts served	242
Region	North West England

Average hardness

77 ppm (Slightly Hard)

Hardness range

34 to 142 ppm

Classification

Slightly Hard

Districts served

242

Region

North West England

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.

Cross-check this against United Utilities's own data: United Utilities water hardness report. Read the hardness explainer (most North West water is soft or very soft) and download the factsheet for conversion tables.

United Utilities vs Other UK Water Companies

Average hardness across the 15 largest UK water suppliers, hardest first. Your supplier is highlighted.

Rank	Water company	Avg ppm	Classification	Districts
1	Anglian Water	321 ppm	Very Hard	261
2	Thames Water	302 ppm	Very Hard	412
3	South East Water	297 ppm	Hard	17
4	Affinity Water	268 ppm	Hard	32
5	Southern Water	263 ppm	Hard	131
6	Portsmouth Water	261 ppm	Hard	34
7	SES Water	239 ppm	Hard	7
8	Wessex Water	231 ppm	Hard	123
9	Severn Trent Water	222 ppm	Hard	345
10	Yorkshire Water	215 ppm	Hard	217
11	Northumbrian Water	101 ppm	Slightly Hard	122
12	South West Water	80 ppm	Slightly Hard	129
13	United Utilities	77 ppm	Slightly Hard	242
14	Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru)	68 ppm	Slightly Hard	214
15	Scottish Water	54 ppm	Soft	3

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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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.

United Utilities Hardness

Free Hard Water Action Plan