Water hardness in Altenstadt
18.2 °dH very hard
Tap water in Altenstadt is very hard: 18.2 °dH (325 mg/L · 19 gpg · 32.5 °fH).
Source: Gemeinde Altenstadt – Physikalisch-chemische Kenndaten Trinkwassernetz (Prüfbericht IHU 07.04.2025) (2025) · data checked 2026-10-29
Range across supply zones: 191–348 mg/L.
4 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Altenstadt (Kindergarten, Probe 27.02.2025) | 19.5 | 348 | very hard |
| Lindheim (Kindergarten, Probe 27.02.2025) | 18.9 | 337 | very hard |
| Oberau (Kindergarten, Probe 27.02.2025) | 17.5 | 312 | very hard |
| Oppelshausen (Übergabe OVAG, Probe 26.03.2024) | 10.7 | 191 | very hard |
Gemeinde Altenstadt buys part of its water from OVAG, and the 2025 report shows four sampling points: Altenstadt at 348.1 mg/L CaCO₃, Lindheim at 337.4 mg/L, Oberau at 312.4 mg/L and the OVAG handover in Oppelshausen at 191.0 mg/L (sampled 2024). The city figure is 324.9 mg/L, so most of the municipality has very hard water.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 18.2 °dH |
|---|---|
| mmol_l | 1.91 |
| Utility | Gemeinde Altenstadt (Wasserversorgung, Zukauf OVAG) |
How Altenstadt compares
- Tap water in Altenstadt is 58 % harder than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 139 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 83 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Hessen it is number 15 of 73 cities; the regional median is 10.7 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Nidda, 12 km away (9.7 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Limburg an der Lahn, 64 km away (23.3 °dH).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Germany →
What it means at home
- Severe scale: heater elements and washing-machine heaters fail early.
- Detergent use is very high; taps and screens coat within days.
- Dishwasher at maximum salt setting.
- An ion-exchange softener is practically essential; RO for drinking water.
How much salt will you use for softening?
Yes. At this hardness a softener pays for itself through appliance life and detergent.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 1 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Altenstadt
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H05 |
| Miele | 18 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 4 |
| Beko | 5th |
| Hoover | S3 |
| LG | H3 |
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 Altenstadt water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 325 mg/L as CaCO₃ (19 gpg, 18.2 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Altenstadt safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
How many grains per gallon is Altenstadt water?
19 gpg, equal to 18.2 °dH, 32.5 °fH or 325 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Altenstadt?
For 325 mg/L (18.2 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Altenstadt?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Gemeinde Altenstadt – Physikalisch-chemische Kenndaten Trinkwassernetz (Prüfbericht IHU 07.04.2025) (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Gemeinde Altenstadt – Physikalisch-chemische Kenndaten Trinkwassernetz (Prüfbericht IHU 07.04.2025) · Outdated figure? Tell us