West Ealing Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Thames Water supplies West Ealing in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, via the Thames Water west London ring main drawing from the River Thames treated at Hampton and Walton-on-Thames works. At 209.5 mg/L (14.7°Clark), West Ealing's water is hard, consistent with the chalk-dominated Thames catchment supply that defines water quality across all Thames Water distribution zones throughout west and central London.

The River Thames at Hampton and Walton carries chalk-derived calcium bicarbonate from the Chiltern Chalk and North Downs Chalk catchments upstream. In the West Ealing and broader Ealing distribution zone, the supply arrives via the west London ring main with TDS 494.2 mg/L — somewhat lower than the harder inner-London Lee Valley zones — reflecting the specific proportion of direct Thames surface water treatment that reaches the Ealing supply zone via the Hampton works, with less additional mineralisation from chalk borehole blending than occurs in some east and north London networks.

At 209.5 mg/L, limescale is a consistent household concern in West Ealing. Kettles benefit from descaling monthly to prevent element damage and chalky deposits in drinks. The combi-boiler should be fitted with a scale inhibitor to protect the heat exchanger and serviced annually. Washing-up liquid requires more product than in softer areas to achieve adequate lather. Taps and shower heads develop visible white limescale deposits within one to two weeks; a fortnightly wipe with white vinegar or a proprietary descaling product keeps fittings clean and prevents chalk staining from building up permanently in this hard chalk Thames-supplied west London community.