Braunstone Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Severn Trent Water supplies Braunstone, a large residential suburb on the south-west edge of Leicester. Supply is drawn from Rutland Water and from the Permo-Triassic Sherwood Sandstone aquifer in the East Midlands, treated at regional Leicester area works before distribution to west Leicester and its suburbs. At 141.5 mg/L (9.9°Clark), Braunstone's water is moderately soft — somewhat less hard than the Leicester average — reflecting the specific supply blend in the west Leicester distribution zone, where the Severn Trent network proportions differ slightly from the harder eastern and central zones.

Rutland Water receives its inflows from the Jurassic limestone catchments of Rutland and Northamptonshire — the Great Oolite and Lincolnshire Limestone formations — contributing significant calcium hardness to the East Midlands supply. The Sherwood Sandstone aquifer in the East Midlands yields moderately hard groundwater from interstitial carbonate cements. The west Leicester distribution blend appears to incorporate a higher proportion of softer surface water inputs or blended sources that dilute the limestone character to produce the moderately soft 141.5 mg/L supply recorded in Braunstone.

At 141.5 mg/L, limescale is a manageable domestic concern in Braunstone. Descaling the kettle every six to eight weeks is typically adequate. The combi-boiler benefits from a standard scale inhibitor as a precaution. Washing-up liquid lathers satisfactorily at everyday quantities. Taps and shower heads develop light to moderate limescale deposits over a few weeks; a monthly wipe with white vinegar or a mild descaling product keeps fittings in good condition. The moderately soft water in this part of Leicester is comfortable for everyday domestic use without demanding intensive limescale management.