Water hardness in Edinburgh
31 mg/L soft
Tap water in Edinburgh is soft: 31 mg/L (1.8 gpg · 1.7 °dH · 3.1 °fH).
Source: Scottish Water - Water Hardness Data 2024 (regulatory supply zones) (2024) · data checked 2026-10-22
Range across supply zones: 15–31 mg/L.
6 supply zones — hardness varies by neighbourhood; the figure above is the median.
Hardness by district / supply zone
| mg/L | mg/L | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Glencorse A (EH15, EH16, EH17) | 30 | 30 | soft |
| Glencorse B (EH8) | 31 | 31 | soft |
| Glencorse C (EH1, EH2, EH9, EH10) | 31 | 31 | soft |
| Glencorse D (EH4, EH11, EH12) | 31 | 31 | soft |
| Glencorse E (EH6, EH7) | 31 | 31 | soft |
| Marchbank B (EH5, EH13, EH14) | 15 | 15 | soft |
Edinburgh's water comes from Scottish Water's Borders reservoirs, chiefly Talla, Fruid and Megget, with Glencorse used to top up supply in dry spells. The figure is from 2024 data. The median across its 6 supply zones is 30.6 mg/L CaCO₃ (range 14.8 to 31.4 mg/L), so it depends on your street's zone. Rain falling on hard, slow-draining upland rock picks up little calcium, which keeps the water soft; limescale builds up slowly at this level, so descaling a kettle now and then is usually enough and a softener is rarely worthwhile.
UK suppliers report mg/L CaCO₃ and often Clark degrees (1 °Clark = 14.25 mg/L).
Water data
| Total hardness | 31 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Calcium (mg/L) | 10.04 |
| Magnesium (mg/L) | 1.31 |
| Utility | Scottish Water |
How Edinburgh compares
- Tap water in Edinburgh is 83 % softer than the median of the 471 cities we track in the United Kingdom (185 mg/L).
- By hardness it ranks 430 of 471 in the United Kingdom (1 = hardest); 9 % of these cities have softer water.
- In Scotland it is number 12 of 24 cities; the regional median is 31 mg/L.
- Nearest city with clearly softer water: Glasgow, 67 km away (16 mg/L).
- Nearest city with clearly harder water: Innerleithen, 38 km away (108 mg/L).
Ranking of the hardest and softest water in the United Kingdom →
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 Edinburgh
| Brand | Setting for this water |
|---|---|
| Bosch | H00 |
| Miele | 2 °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 Edinburgh water hard or soft?
It is soft: 31 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1.8 gpg, 1.7 °dH). The usual bands are soft < 60, moderately hard 60–120, hard 120–180 and very hard > 180 mg/L.
Is tap water in Edinburgh safe to drink?
Hardness is not a health issue; it is about limescale, taste and appliances. Mains water must meet national drinking-water standards. UK suppliers report mg/L CaCO₃ and often Clark degrees (1 °Clark = 14.25 mg/L).
How many grains per gallon is Edinburgh water?
1.8 gpg, equal to 1.7 °dH, 3.1 °fH or 31 mg/L calcium carbonate.
What dishwasher salt setting should I use in Edinburgh?
For 31 mg/L (1.7 °dH) check your manufacturer's table: level 0–1, usually no salt.
Do I need a water softener in Edinburgh?
No. With soft water a softener adds nothing.
Source
Source: Scottish Water - Water Hardness Data 2024 (regulatory supply zones) (2024). Method: figure published by the water supplier. Scottish Water - Water Hardness Data 2024 (regulatory supply zones) · Outdated figure? Tell us