Water hardness in Huntsville
12 mg/L soft
Tap water in Huntsville is soft: 12 mg/L (0.7 gpg · 0.7 °dH · 1.2 °fH).
Source: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Drinking Water Surveillance Program, Open Government Licence – Ontario (2019) · data checked 2026-10-21
Range across supply zones: 11–13 mg/L.
This figure is over 3 years old; hardness may have changed.
Huntsville is on the Canadian Shield, where lakes and rivers carry little dissolved calcium. The 2019 programme figure for the Fairyview system is 12.2 mg/L as CaCO3 (11.4 to 13). The water is very soft, and a softener is not needed for scale.
Health Canada: hardness above 200 mg/L is considered poor but tolerable; above 500 mg/L unacceptable.
Water data
| Total hardness | 12 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Utility | Huntsville (Fairyview) Drinking Water System |
How Huntsville compares
- Tap water in Huntsville is 88 % softer than the median of the 254 cities we track in Canada (101 mg/L).
- By hardness it ranks 234 of 254 in Canada (1 = hardest); 8 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Ontario it is number 120 of 120 cities; the regional median is 124 mg/L.
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Bracebridge, 34 km away (33 mg/L).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Canada →
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 Huntsville
| 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 Huntsville water hard or soft?
It is soft: 12 mg/L as CaCO₃ (0.7 gpg, 0.7 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Huntsville safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. Health Canada: hardness above 200 mg/L is considered poor but tolerable; above 500 mg/L unacceptable.
How many grains per gallon is Huntsville water?
0.7 gpg, equal to 0.7 °dH, 1.2 °fH or 12 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Huntsville?
For 12 mg/L (0.7 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Huntsville?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Drinking Water Surveillance Program, Open Government Licence – Ontario (2019). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Drinking Water Surveillance Program, Open Government Licence – Ontario · Outdated figure? Tell us