Water hardness in Herford
17.5 °dH very hard
Tap water in Herford is very hard: 17.5 °dH (312 mg/L · 18.2 gpg · 31.2 °fH).
Source: Stadtwerke Herford GmbH, Wasseranalyse (Stand Juni 2026), Tabelle Härte °dH (2026-06) · data checked 2026-10-20
Range across supply zones: 286–357 mg/L.
3 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasserwerk Brunnenstraße | 18.5 | 330 | very hard |
| Wasserwerk Herford-Süd | 17.5 | 312 | very hard |
| Wasserwerk Steinbeck | 17.2 | 307 | very hard |
Stadtwerke Herford's analysis, dated June 2026, lists hardness per waterworks, giving three zones from 285.6 to 357.0 mg/L CaCO₃ and a median of 312.4 mg/L. The document does not say which parts of the city each works supplies, so the zones follow the works, not districts. The utility itself describes the water as hard, so expect heavy limescale on kettles and heating elements.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 17.5 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Herford GmbH |
How Herford compares
- Tap water in Herford is 52 % harder than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 165 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 79 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Nordrhein-Westfalen it is number 16 of 153 cities; the regional median is 11.3 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Oerlinghausen, 5 km away (8.7 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Kirchlengern, 6 km away (22.7 °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 Herford
| 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 Herford water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 312 mg/L as CaCO₃ (18.2 gpg, 17.5 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Herford 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 Herford water?
18.2 gpg, equal to 17.5 °dH, 31.2 °fH or 312 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Herford?
For 312 mg/L (17.5 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Herford?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadtwerke Herford GmbH, Wasseranalyse (Stand Juni 2026), Tabelle Härte °dH (2026-06). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Stadtwerke Herford GmbH, Wasseranalyse (Stand Juni 2026), Tabelle Härte °dH · Outdated figure? Tell us