Water hardness in Frankston East
18 mg/L soft
Tap water in Frankston East is soft: 18 mg/L (1.1 gpg · 1 °dH · 1.8 °fH).
Source: South East Water, Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2024-25 (2025) · data checked 2026-10-29
Range across supply zones: 15–27 mg/L.
South East Water's 2024-25 annual report puts hardness here at 18 mg/L as CaCO₃, with a reported range of 15 to 27 mg/L. That is very soft by Australian standards. Scale is rarely an issue, so a softener adds little. Soap and detergent lather easily, and you may need less of them.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines: aesthetic target ≤ 200 mg/L CaCO₃.
Water data
| Total hardness | 18 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Utility | South East Water |
How Frankston East compares
- Tap water in Frankston East is 79 % softer than the median of the 307 cities we track in Australia (85 mg/L).
- By hardness it ranks 294 of 307 in Australia (1 = hardest); 3 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Victoria it is number 38 of 46 cities; the regional median is 66 mg/L.
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Trentham, 109 km away (67 mg/L).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Australia →
What it means at home
- Little or no limescale in kettles, water heaters or washing machines.
- Soap lathers easily; water does not dry skin or hair.
- Dishwasher: salt setting at minimum or off.
- No softener needed; a jug filter only changes taste.
How much salt will you use for softening?
No. Water this soft does not need softening.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 6 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Frankston East
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 1 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 1 |
| Beko | 1st |
| Hoover | S0 |
| LG | H0 |
From each brand's manual for the model family named in the source; your model may differ, so check its manual. All brands and how to change the setting →
FAQ
Is Frankston East water hard or soft?
It is soft: 18 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1.1 gpg, 1 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Frankston East safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines: aesthetic target ≤ 200 mg/L CaCO₃.
How many grains per gallon is Frankston East water?
1.1 gpg, equal to 1 °dH, 1.8 °fH or 18 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Frankston East?
For 18 mg/L (1 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Frankston East?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: South East Water, Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2024-25 (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. South East Water, Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2024-25 · Outdated figure? Tell us