Water hardness in Stendal
16.6 °dH very hard
Tap water in Stendal is very hard: 16.6 °dH (297 mg/L · 17.4 gpg · 29.7 °fH).
Source: Stadtwerke Stendal Trinkwasserqualitaet 2025, Wasserwerk Nord (2025) · data checked 2026-10-23
Range across supply zones: 282–312 mg/L.
2 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| °dH | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasserwerk Nord (WWNord) | 15.8 | 282 | very hard |
| Wasserwerk Sued (WWSued) | 17.5 | 312 | very hard |
Stadtwerke Stendal publishes 2025 values for two waterworks, Nord at 282.0 mg/L and Süd at 312.4 mg/L CaCO₃. The city figure of 297.2 mg/L is the median of those two, and both works are in the very hard class. The gap is small, so limescale on heating elements and taps should be similar across town.
German law (WRMG) uses 3 bands: soft < 8.4 °dH, medium 8.4–14 °dH, hard > 14 °dH.
Water data
| Total hardness | 16.6 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Stadtwerke Stendal |
How Stendal compares
- Tap water in Stendal is 45 % harder than the median of the 809 cities we track in Germany (11.5 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 198 of 809 in Germany (1 = hardest); 76 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Sachsen-Anhalt it is number 6 of 10 cities; the regional median is 17.1 °dH.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Rathenow, 32 km away (11.7 °dH).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Tangermünde, 11 km away (25.4 °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 Stendal
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H05 |
| Miele | 17 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 4 |
| Beko | 5th |
| Hoover | S2 |
| 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 Stendal water hard or soft?
It is very hard: 297 mg/L as CaCO₃ (17.4 gpg, 16.6 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Stendal 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 Stendal water?
17.4 gpg, equal to 16.6 °dH, 29.7 °fH or 297 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Stendal?
For 297 mg/L (16.6 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: maximum level (5–7).
Do I need a water softener in Stendal?
Yes, unless you are only passing through: scale damages appliances within a few years.
Source
Source: Stadtwerke Stendal Trinkwasserqualitaet 2025, Wasserwerk Nord (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Stadtwerke Stendal Trinkwasserqualitaet 2025, Wasserwerk Nord · Outdated figure? Tell us