Kidlington Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Thames Water supplies Kidlington, a large Oxfordshire village immediately north of Oxford near the Oxford Canal and RAF Brize Norton corridor — the largest village in England by some measures — from Farmoor Reservoir on the River Thames above Oxford and from Oxfordshire Jurassic Limestone aquifer sources, treated at Farmoor Water Treatment Works. At 226.5 mg/L (15.9°Clark), Kidlington's water is hard, consistent with the chalk and limestone catchment character of the upper Thames and the Jurassic limestone aquifer that supplies the Oxford supply zone.

Kidlington is supplied from the Thames Water Oxford distribution zone, which draws on the River Thames at Farmoor reservoir — a surface reservoir supplied by the chalk-catchment upper Thames draining the Cotswolds and Berkshire Downs — supplemented by Jurassic Limestone borehole contributions from the Oxfordshire Jurassic belt. The 226.5 mg/L with TDS 605.9 mg/L reflects the classic hard water character of the Oxford supply zone, consistent with other communities in the Thames valley north of Oxford receiving the same moderately hard chalk and limestone-influenced supply.

At 226.5 mg/L, limescale is a consistent household challenge in Kidlington. Kettles should be descaled monthly. The combi-boiler benefits from a fitted scale inhibitor and annual professional servicing. Washing-up liquid requires more product per wash to achieve satisfactory 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 on surfaces in this hard upper Thames and Jurassic limestone-supplied Oxfordshire community.