Leek Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Severn Trent Water supplies Leek, a market town in the Staffordshire Moorlands at the southern edge of the Peak District. The town's water is drawn primarily from Tittesworth Reservoir on the River Churnet — an upland impoundment set within the Staffordshire Moorlands landscape — treated at Tittesworth Water Treatment Works before distribution across Leek and the surrounding area. At 109 mg/L (7.6°Clark), Leek's water is moderately soft, reflecting the soft upland catchments of the Staffordshire Moorlands that feed Tittesworth, though with some limestone influence present in the wider supply blend.

Tittesworth Reservoir collects water from the Staffordshire Moorlands — an upland plateau of Millstone Grit, Coal Measures, and minor limestone outcrops at the southern fringe of the Peak District. The dominant Millstone Grit catchments produce naturally soft, slightly acidic water, while the minor outcrops of Carboniferous Limestone at the Moorlands edge contribute a modest calcium carbonate input to the reservoir blend. The result is a supply that is considerably softer than the classic Peak District limestone water but harder than purely gritstone moorland sources.

At 109 mg/L, Leek's water is moderately soft and limescale accumulates at a gentle pace. Descaling the kettle every six to eight weeks is typically sufficient to maintain good performance. The combi-boiler benefits from a fitted scale inhibitor as standard good practice, though rapid calcium build-up is unlikely. Washing-up liquid lathers satisfactorily at everyday quantities. Taps and shower heads develop only light limescale deposits over a few weeks; a monthly wipe with white vinegar or a mild descaling product is generally all that is needed to keep fittings clean. Overall, Leek's water is comfortable and relatively low-maintenance for domestic use.