Accrington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.3°Clark9°fH5°dH
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
215.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
£0.20
energy & soap waste
Source: DWI Data Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Accrington, your appliances are currently losing 12% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Accrington | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -22% |
| Washing Machine | 10.3 yrs | 12 yrs | -14% |
| Water Heater | 12 yrs | 15 yrs | -20% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Accrington compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Clark° | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Accrington, North West | 89.5 mg/L | 6.3° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Great Harwood, North West | 122 mg/L | 8.6° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Haslingden, North West | 87 mg/L | 6.1° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Padiham, North West | 143 mg/L | 10° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Rawtenstall, North West | 86.5 mg/L | 6.1° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Accrington compares to the United Kingdom average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Accrington | 89.5 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| United Kingdom National Avg | 183 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| Livingston Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
Bring Livingston-quality water to your Accrington home
Shop water softeners on Amazon.co.uk →
What Makes Accrington's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Accrington, in the Hyndburn district of east Lancashire below the Rossendale Fells, is supplied by United Utilities from the Ogden Reservoir and the east Lancashire Pennine reservoir network. The Ogden Reservoir and the cluster of east Lancashire reservoirs — Calf Hey, Hurstwood, and the Rossendale chain — impound moorland streams from the Carboniferous Millstone Grit of the east Lancashire Pennines and Rossendale Fells. Millstone Grit is an impermeable, calcium-poor siliceous sandstone that contributes very little dissolved mineral to runoff, producing inherently soft moorland water. United Utilities treats and distributes from the east Lancashire reservoir system to Accrington and the Hyndburn towns, giving a consistently soft supply typical of the east Lancashire Pennine supply zone.
Accrington's soft water — 89.5 mg/L (6.3°Clark) — reflects the Carboniferous Millstone Grit moorland catchments of the east Lancashire Pennine reservoir system in United Utilities' Hyndburn supply zone. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) classifies this supply as soft.
Limescale is very minor in Accrington. At 89.5 mg/L, limescale builds slowly — kettles need descaling every two to three months. Combi-boiler heat exchangers accumulate minimal deposits; annual servicing is routine. Showerheads and taps remain largely clear. Washing-up liquid lathers well with the soft east Lancashire Pennine supply. Limescale is not a significant domestic concern for Accrington households on the United Utilities Rossendale moorland reservoir supply.
Geology & Source: Supplied by United Utilities from Ogden Reservoir and east Lancashire Pennine reservoir system — Accrington's east Lancashire position at the foot of the Rossendale Fells draws on United Utilities' soft Pennine Millstone Grit reservoir supply from the east Lancashire moors, producing soft water at 89.5 mg/L (6.3°Clark).