Cannock Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
14.1°Clark20.1°fH11.3°dH
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.005 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
563.8 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
£0.46
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 Cannock, your appliances are currently losing 27% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Cannock | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 3 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -65% |
| Washing Machine | 6.2 yrs | 12 yrs | -48% |
| Water Heater | 7.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -49% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Cannock compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Clark° | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cannock, West Midlands | 201 mg/L | 14.1° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Great Wyrley, West Midlands | 162 mg/L | 11.4° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Bloxwich, West Midlands | 141.5 mg/L | 9.9° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Featherstone, West Midlands | 106.5 mg/L | 7.5° | 🟡 Moderately Hard | mixed |
| Pelsall, West Midlands | 179 mg/L | 12.6° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Cannock compares to the United Kingdom average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Cannock | 201 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 Cannock's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Cannock, the town in Staffordshire adjacent to Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is supplied by South Staffordshire Water (part of the South Staffs and Cambridge Water group). Supply draws primarily from licensed boreholes into the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer (Bunter Sandstone) beneath Cannock Chase — one of the most productive sandstone aquifers in the English Midlands. Cannock Chase is underlain by a thick sequence of Permo-Triassic Sherwood Sandstone — the same formation famous for its water-supply role at Burton upon Trent — and South Staffordshire Water has operated boreholes in this sandstone aquifer beneath the Chase for generations. This is supplemented by surface water and blended supplies from the broader South Staffordshire Water network. Water is treated before distribution to Cannock and the Staffordshire coalfield area.
Cannock's hardness of 201 mg/L (14.1°Clark) reflects the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer beneath Cannock Chase. The Sherwood Sandstone is a Permo-Triassic continental sandstone deposited in arid desert conditions approximately 240 million years ago, overlying earlier Carboniferous formations. Groundwater in this sandstone acquires dissolved calcium and sulphate from sandstone matrix cements and from thin interbedded mudstone and evaporite mineral horizons in the Triassic sequence. Unlike the chalk-derived hardness of south-east England, Cannock's hardness is a combination of calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate from Triassic gypsum beds. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) classifies this supply as moderately hard to hard.
Limescale is a regular household concern in Cannock. At 201 mg/L, limescale forms in kettles within three to four weeks and monthly descaling is advisable. Combi-boiler heat exchangers accumulate deposits steadily — annual servicing with a limescale check is important, and fitting an in-line scale inhibitor is recommended. Showerheads, taps, and shower screens develop consistent limescale deposits. Washing-up liquid lathers moderately. Using Calgon monthly in the washing machine and maintaining a regular descaling routine is appropriate practice for Cannock households managing the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer supply.
Geology & Source: Supplied by South Staffordshire Water from the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer beneath Cannock Chase — the extensive sandstone aquifer system under the Chase provides significant local groundwater, producing moderately hard water at 201 mg/L (14.1°Clark).