Water hardness in Marburg
10.5 °dH very hard
Tap water in Marburg is very hard: 10.5 °dH (187 mg/L · 10.9 gpg · 18.7 °fH).
Source: Stadtwerke Marburg (SWMR), Wasserhärte des Marburger Trinkwassers, Stand September 2025 (2025-09) · data checked 2026-10-20
Range across supply zones: 135–240 mg/L.
Stadtwerke Marburg prints a single network-wide range for September 2025, from 134.8 to 240.1 mg/L CaCO₃, classed soft to medium under the German WRMG. No single average is published, so the 187.4 mg/L shown here is the midpoint of that range. Hardness at your tap can sit anywhere in the band.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 10.5 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Marburg GmbH (SWMR) |
How Marburg compares
- Tap water in Marburg is 9 % softer than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 468 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 42 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Hessen it is number 41 of 73 cities; the regional median is 10.7 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Stadtallendorf, 17 km away (6.3 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Solms, 40 km away (22 °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 Marburg
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H03 |
| 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 Marburg water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 187 mg/L as CaCO₃ (10.9 gpg, 10.5 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Marburg 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 Marburg water?
10.9 gpg, equal to 10.5 °dH, 18.7 °fH or 187 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Marburg?
For 187 mg/L (10.5 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Marburg?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadtwerke Marburg (SWMR), Wasserhärte des Marburger Trinkwassers, Stand September 2025 (2025-09). Method: computed from supplier's calcium and magnesium. Stadtwerke Marburg (SWMR), Wasserhärte des Marburger Trinkwassers, Stand September 2025 · Outdated figure? Tell us