Alfreton Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Alfreton, the Amber Valley market town in east Derbyshire between Ripley, Chesterfield and Kirkby in Ashfield — part of the historic Derbyshire coalfield belt — is supplied by Severn Trent Water from the Derwent Valley Reservoirs (Ladybower, Derwent and Howden) in the Peak District, with local groundwater from the Carboniferous Coal Measures of the east Derbyshire coalfield basin. The Derwent reservoir system generates soft moorland water at 60–80 mg/L from Millstone Grit catchments above Bamford and Ashopton. As this supply is distributed east through the Derbyshire network to Alfreton, it is blended with modest groundwater from Coal Measures sandstone of the Amber valley basin — a non-calcareous formation producing moderately soft, low-mineral groundwater. At 124.5 mg/L with TDS 290 mg/L (ratio 2.33), Alfreton's supply is close in character to Heanor (130.5 mg/L) to the south — both reflecting the Derwent reservoir-dominated, Coal Measures-blended supply typical of the east Derbyshire coalfield towns.

The Carboniferous Coal Measures of the Amber valley around Alfreton consist of grey mudstones, siltstones and medium-grained sandstones with coal seams — formations that contribute moderate calcium and sodium to groundwater without significant limestone or evaporite mineral input. This Coal Measures groundwater character, blended with the soft Derwent reservoir water, produces a moderately soft supply at 124.5 mg/L in the Alfreton zone. Severn Trent's east Derbyshire distribution network blends both sources to manage supply reliability, producing a characteristic 120–135 mg/L hardness range across the Amber Valley Borough supply area.

At 124.5 mg/L Alfreton's water is moderately soft and limescale management is undemanding. Kettles need descaling every six to eight weeks with a light citric acid rinse. Shower screens develop only moderate spotting. Washing-up liquid lathers well. Combi-boilers face low to moderate scaling risk. Alfreton's working-class Derbyshire market-town character — the Midland mainline, the historic Carnfield Hall and the coal and hosiery heritage — is served by the moderately soft Derwent valley supply typical of the east Derbyshire towns between the Peak District moorlands and the Nottinghamshire border.