Water hardness in Detmold
11.1 °dH very hard
Tap water in Detmold is very hard: 11.1 °dH (198 mg/L · 11.6 gpg · 19.8 °fH).
Source: Stadtwerke Detmold, Wasseranalytik 2020 (zone Mittelwerte 2020) (2020) · data checked 2026-10-20
Range across supply zones: 100–300 mg/L.
8 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1: Pivitsheide, Heidenoldendorf, Kussel, Nienhagen | 16.8 | 300 | very hard |
| Zone 2: Detmold-Süd | 10.9 | 195 | very hard |
| Zone 3: Detmold-Nord, Klüt, Loßbruch, Jerxen-Orbke, Niewald, Oettern-Bremke, Bentrup | 11 | 196 | very hard |
| Zone 4: Spork-Eichholz, Remmighausen, Papenberg, Schönemark | 11.9 | 212 | very hard |
| Zone 5: Diestelbruch, Vahlhausen, Mosebeck, Brokhausen, Barkhausen, Schönhagen, Hakedahl, Herberhausen | 15.4 | 275 | very hard |
| Zone 6: Heiligenkirchen, Schling, Hornoldendorf | 11.2 | 200 | very hard |
| Zone 7: Hiddesen | 6.5 | 116 | moderately hard |
| Zone 8: Berlebeck | 5.6 | 100 | moderately hard |
This figure is over 3 years old; hardness may have changed.
This page rests on Stadtwerke Detmold's zone analysis for 2020, so treat it as dated: no newer zone table was found. The eight zones span 100.0 to 299.9 mg/L CaCO₃, with a median of 198.1 mg/L. The utility lists spring and waterworks sources per zone, and the zones fed mainly by a single source, such as Hiddesen and Berlebeck, sit at the soft end.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 11.1 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Detmold GmbH |
How Detmold compares
- Tap water in Detmold is close to the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 430 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 47 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Nordrhein-Westfalen it is number 83 of 153 cities; the regional median is 11.3 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Oerlinghausen, 24 km away (8.7 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Lage, 12 km away (23.5 °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 Detmold
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H03 |
| Miele | 11 °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 Detmold water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 198 mg/L as CaCO₃ (11.6 gpg, 11.1 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Detmold 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 Detmold water?
11.6 gpg, equal to 11.1 °dH, 19.8 °fH or 198 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Detmold?
For 198 mg/L (11.1 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Detmold?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadtwerke Detmold, Wasseranalytik 2020 (zone Mittelwerte 2020) (2020). Method: older figure, source currently unavailable. Stadtwerke Detmold, Wasseranalytik 2020 (zone Mittelwerte 2020) · Outdated figure? Tell us