Water hardness in Piteå
3 °dH soft
Tap water in Piteå is soft: 3 °dH (54 mg/L · 3.1 gpg · 5.4 °fH).
Source: Pireva, Vattenkvalitet (web page) (2025) · data checked 2026-10-20
Pireva reports hardness per waterworks, and Degeränget vattenverk gives 53.6 mg/L CaCO₃. Pireva says the plant serves about 35 000 people in Piteå kommun, but the page does not name the town explicitly, so the link to Piteå is inferred. The page prints no year; we date it to 2025 from linked analysis files. The water is soft, and a softener is hard to justify on hardness alone.
Swedish municipalities report °dH; most surface-water supplies are soft.
Water data
| Total hardness | 3 °dH |
|---|---|
| Utility | Pireva (Piteå avfall och vatten) |
How Piteå compares
- Tap water in Piteå is 36 % softer than the median of the 33 cities we track in Sweden (4.7 °dH).
- By hardness it ranks 22 of 33 in Sweden (1 = hardest); 28 % of these cities have softer water.
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in Sweden →
What it means at home
- Little or no limescale in kettles, water heaters or washing machines.
- Soap lathers easily; water does not dry skin or hair.
- Dishwasher: salt setting at minimum or off.
- No softener needed; a jug filter only changes taste.
How much salt will you use for softening?
No. Water this soft does not need softening.
Descale a coffee machine or kettle about every 6 months (typical manufacturer guidance for this hardness).
Estimates for planning, not a quote. Check your appliance manual for exact settings.
Dishwasher setting in Piteå
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 3 °dH |
| AEG / Electrolux | 1 |
| Beko | 1st |
| Hoover | S0 |
| LG | H0 |
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 Piteå water hard or soft?
It is soft: 54 mg/L as CaCO₃ (3.1 gpg, 3 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Piteå safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. Swedish municipalities report °dH; most surface-water supplies are soft.
How many grains per gallon is Piteå water?
3.1 gpg, equal to 3 °dH, 5.4 °fH or 54 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Piteå?
For 54 mg/L (3 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Piteå?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: Pireva, Vattenkvalitet (web page) (2025). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Pireva, Vattenkvalitet (web page) · Outdated figure? Tell us