Water hardness in Brilon
10.3 °dH very hard
Tap water in Brilon is very hard: 10.3 °dH (185 mg/L · 10.8 gpg · 18.5 °fH).
Source: Stadtwerke Brilon AöR, Trinkwasserqualität Hochbehälter Wohlhagen (Stand Januar 2026) (2025) · data checked 2026-10-23
Range across supply zones: 86–291 mg/L.
10 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| HB Buttenberg: Hoppecke und Bontkirchen | 16.3 | 291 | very hard |
| HB Hollemann: Teilbereich Brilon | 10.9 | 195 | very hard |
| HB Hölsterloh: Teilbereiche Brilon und Wülfte | 8.8 | 157 | hard |
| HB Kalvarienberg: Altenbüren | 11.5 | 205 | very hard |
| HB Poppenberg: Teilbereiche Brilon und Gudenhagen/Petersborn (area list per undated page table) | 8.8 | 157 | hard |
| HB Sunderkopf: Esshoff, Rixen, Scharfenberg | 9.8 | 175 | hard |
| HB Weiße Frau: Radlinghausen, Rösenbeck, Thülen | 14.5 | 259 | very hard |
| HB Windsberg: Teilbereich Altenbüren | 9.2 | 164 | hard |
| HB Wohlhagen: Alme | 16 | 286 | very hard |
| Wassergewinnungsanlage Schmala: Brilon-Wald, Teilbereiche Gudenhagen und Schmelterfeld | 4.8 | 86 | moderately hard |
Stadtwerke Brilon publishes a separate analysis for each of ten supply zones, from 2025, with a median of 184.7 mg/L CaCO₃. The range is wide, 85.7 mg/L in Brilon-Wald to 290.9 mg/L in Hoppecke and Bontkirchen, so the district matters more than the city figure. Several PDFs print a hardness label that does not match the number; we use the number.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 10.3 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Brilon AöR |
How Brilon compares
- Tap water in Brilon is 10 % softer than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 471 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 42 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Nordrhein-Westfalen it is number 92 of 153 cities; the regional median is 11.3 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Schmallenberg, 23 km away (4.3 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Warstein, 17 km away (14.7 °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 Brilon
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H02 |
| Miele | 10 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 2 |
| 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 Brilon water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 185 mg/L as CaCO₃ (10.8 gpg, 10.3 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Brilon 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 Brilon water?
10.8 gpg, equal to 10.3 °dH, 18.5 °fH or 185 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Brilon?
For 185 mg/L (10.3 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Brilon?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadtwerke Brilon AöR, Trinkwasserqualität Hochbehälter Wohlhagen (Stand Januar 2026) (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Stadtwerke Brilon AöR, Trinkwasserqualität Hochbehälter Wohlhagen (Stand Januar 2026) · Outdated figure? Tell us