Water hardness in Osterburken
10.6 °dH very hard
Tap water in Osterburken is very hard: 10.6 °dH (189 mg/L · 11.1 gpg · 18.9 °fH).
Source: Stadt Osterburken, Wasserversorgung: Härtebereiche je Versorgungsgebiet (Trinkwasseranalyse 2024) (2024) · data checked 2026-11-05
Range across supply zones: 159–220 mg/L.
2 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Osterburken und Hemsbach (einschl. Adelsheim-Nord) | 12.3 | 220 | very hard |
| Schlierstadt und Bofsheim | 8.9 | 159 | hard |
The town of Osterburken lists hardness by supply area, with two zones (2024 analysis). The median is 189.2 mg/L CaCO₃, about 10.6 °dH, and the range runs from 158.9 to 219.6 mg/L, roughly 8.9 to 12.3 °dH. The town can tell you which zone serves your address. For appliance settings, use the value for your zone rather than the median.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 10.6 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadt Osterburken, Wasserversorgung |
How Osterburken compares
- Tap water in Osterburken is 8 % softer than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 461 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 42 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Baden-Württemberg it is number 95 of 146 cities; the regional median is 12.8 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Eberbach, 31 km away (2.1 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Oedheim, 24 km away (16.6 °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 Osterburken
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H03 |
| Miele | 11 °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 Osterburken water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 189 mg/L as CaCO₃ (11.1 gpg, 10.6 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Osterburken 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 Osterburken water?
11.1 gpg, equal to 10.6 °dH, 18.9 °fH or 189 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Osterburken?
For 189 mg/L (10.6 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Osterburken?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadt Osterburken, Wasserversorgung: Härtebereiche je Versorgungsgebiet (Trinkwasseranalyse 2024) (2024). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Stadt Osterburken, Wasserversorgung: Härtebereiche je Versorgungsgebiet (Trinkwasseranalyse 2024) · Outdated figure? Tell us