Gillingham Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
22.2°Clark31.6°fH17.7°dH
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.5
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
880 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
£0.72
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 Gillingham, your appliances are currently losing 42% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Gillingham | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3 yrs | 12 yrs | -75% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Gillingham compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Clark° | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Gillingham, South East | 316 mg/L | 22.2° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Chatham, South East | 287.5 mg/L | 20.2° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Rochester, South East | 224 mg/L | 15.7° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Strood, South East | 219.5 mg/L | 15.4° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Snodland, South East | 272.5 mg/L | 19.1° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Gillingham compares to the United Kingdom average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Gillingham | 316 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| United Kingdom National Avg | 183 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| Livingston Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Gillingham's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Gillingham, in the Medway unitary authority in Kent, is one of the Medway towns and is supplied by South East Water from the North Downs Chalk Aquifer in the Medway valley. South East Water operates licensed boreholes in the Medway valley chalk — including abstraction sites at Eccles, Snodland, and the Lower Medway valley — sinking into the thick Cretaceous Upper Chalk that underlies the valley floor and is exposed in the North Downs flanking the Medway to the north and south. The River Medway itself drains chalk and Wealden catchments, delivering chalk-mineral-laden water to Medway valley reservoirs. Water is treated at South East Water's Kent facilities before distribution to Gillingham and the Medway towns cluster of Chatham, Rochester, and Strood.
Gillingham's very hard water — 316 mg/L (22.2°Clark) — results from the North Downs Chalk Aquifer of the Medway valley. The chalk of the North Downs is a thick Cretaceous Upper Chalk ridge, and in the Medway valley it is deeply dissected to expose productive chalk horizons with exceptionally high dissolved calcium groundwater. South East Water's Medway valley boreholes access this chalk at depth, where long groundwater residence times have produced very high calcium concentrations. The Medway towns have historically been among the hardest-water areas in Kent. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) classifies this supply as very hard — matching or exceeding the hardness of neighbouring Maidstone.
Limescale is a serious and persistent everyday challenge in Gillingham. At 316 mg/L, limescale forms very rapidly — a thick white crust in kettles within one week, requiring weekly or fortnightly descaling. Combi-boiler heat exchangers face rapid, serious limescale accumulation that can cause premature failure; annual servicing with limescale inspection is essential and fitting a polyphosphate scale inhibitor is strongly recommended. Showerheads, taps, and shower screens block with heavy limescale deposits requiring regular, aggressive treatment. Washing-up liquid lathers very poorly. Gillingham homeowners should strongly consider fitting a full water softener for comprehensive protection.
Geology & Source: Supplied by South East Water from the North Downs Chalk Aquifer in the Medway valley — Gillingham is one of the Medway towns sitting directly in the chalk valley, where deep chalk boreholes access high-calcium groundwater to produce very hard water at 316 mg/L (22.2°Clark).