Water hardness in Baunatal
12.6 °dH very hard
Tap water in Baunatal is very hard: 12.6 °dH (225 mg/L · 13.1 gpg · 22.5 °fH).
Source: Stadt Baunatal, Wasserwerte Probenahmestellen (Probenahme 20.01.2026) (2026-01) · data checked 2026-10-23
Range across supply zones: 204–227 mg/L.
8 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Altenbauna (AquaPark) | 12.6 | 225 | very hard |
| Altenbauna (Kindergarten Pestalozzi) | 12.6 | 225 | very hard |
| Altenritte (Vereinshaus) | 12.1 | 216 | very hard |
| Großenritte (Kindergarten Astrid-Lindgren-Haus) | 12.3 | 220 | very hard |
| Guntershausen (Marie-Behre-Heim) | 12.6 | 225 | very hard |
| Hertingshausen (RATIO-Markt) | 11.4 | 204 | very hard |
| Kirchbauna (Kindergarten Hermann-Schafft-Straße 23) | 12.7 | 227 | very hard |
| Rengershausen (Kindergarten Dorothea-Viehmann-Straße 31) | 12.7 | 227 | very hard |
Stadtwerke Baunatal publishes eight sampling points from 20 January 2026, and the median is 224.9 mg/L CaCO₃ in a narrow range of 203.5 to 226.7 mg/L. The city places this in hardness range 2 (medium), and the differences between districts are small. One school measures far lower because it runs its own softener; that point is excluded here.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 12.6 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Baunatal (Stadt Baunatal) |
How Baunatal compares
- Tap water in Baunatal is 10 % harder than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 356 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 55 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Hessen it is number 28 of 73 cities; the regional median is 10.7 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Lohfelden, 9 km away (7.9 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Marsberg, 45 km away (20.6 °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 Baunatal
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H04 |
| Miele | 13 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 3 |
| Beko | 3rd |
| Hoover | S2 |
| LG | H2 |
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 Baunatal water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 225 mg/L as CaCO₃ (13.1 gpg, 12.6 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Baunatal 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 Baunatal water?
13.1 gpg, equal to 12.6 °dH, 22.5 °fH or 225 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Baunatal?
For 225 mg/L (12.6 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Baunatal?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadt Baunatal, Wasserwerte Probenahmestellen (Probenahme 20.01.2026) (2026-01). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Stadt Baunatal, Wasserwerte Probenahmestellen (Probenahme 20.01.2026) · Outdated figure? Tell us