Ulverston Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
6.8°Clark9.7°fH5.4°dH
Source
mixed
pH Level
7.6
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.004 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
252.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
£0.22
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 Ulverston, your appliances are currently losing 13% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Ulverston | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 6.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -25% |
| Washing Machine | 10 yrs | 12 yrs | -17% |
| Water Heater | 11.7 yrs | 15 yrs | -22% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Ulverston compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Clark° | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ulverston, North West | 97 mg/L | 6.8° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Barrow in Furness, North West | 120 mg/L | 8.4° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Heysham, North West | 41 mg/L | 2.9° | 🟢 Soft | mixed |
| Morecambe, North West | 62.5 mg/L | 4.4° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Fleetwood, North West | 167 mg/L | 11.7° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Ulverston compares to the United Kingdom average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Ulverston | 97 mg/L | 🟡 Low |
| United Kingdom National Avg | 183 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| Livingston Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Ulverston's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
United Utilities supplies Ulverston, the south Cumbrian market town on the Furness Peninsula — the birthplace of Stan Laurel (of Laurel and Hardy fame), a town of cobbled streets, a short canal to the sea, and strong industrial heritage from its 19th-century ironworks, set among the green limestone hills between Morecambe Bay and the southern Lake District — from Windermere and Coniston Water in the Lake District, blended with Carboniferous Limestone groundwater contributions in the south Cumbria Furness distribution zone, treated at Watchgate Water Treatment Works near Kendal. At 97 mg/L (6.8°Clark), Ulverston's water is slightly hard — reflecting calcium contributions from the Carboniferous Limestone (the Furness and South Lakeland Limestone Series) that characterises the Furness Peninsula geology.
Ulverston sits on the Carboniferous Limestone of the Furness Peninsula — a distinctive rural landscape of limestone pavement, drumlins, and estuarine pasture. United Utilities delivers Lake District reservoir supply (soft, Borrowdale Volcanics catchment) blended with a fraction of Carboniferous Limestone groundwater from the Furness limestone. This limestone contribution elevates hardness to 97 mg/L with TDS 252.9 mg/L — slightly hard water characteristic of the south Cumbria Furness distribution zone, harder than the Lake District upland communities to the north.
At 97 mg/L, limescale is a moderate and manageable domestic concern in Ulverston. Descaling the kettle every two to three months is typically adequate. The combi-boiler benefits from a standard scale inhibitor as a precaution. Washing-up liquid lathers readily. Taps and shower heads develop moderate deposits over several weeks; a quarterly wipe with white vinegar keeps fixtures clean. Ulverston's slightly hard supply reflects the limestone character of Furness — the gentle Carboniferous Limestone hills that ring the town are the same geological formation that puts modest calcium in every Ulverston household's tap.
Geology & Source: Supplied by United Utilities from Windermere and Coniston Water in the Lake District blended with Carboniferous Limestone groundwater in the south Cumbria Furness distribution zone — treated at Watchgate Water Treatment Works — produces slightly hard water at 97 mg/L (6.8°Clark).