Ludlow Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Welsh Water supplies Ludlow, the beautiful south Shropshire market town in the Teme Valley — one of England's finest medieval towns, with a great castle overlooking the river, a celebrated food culture (it was once described as the nation's unofficial 'food capital' for its farmers' markets and independent restaurants), and an annual arts, food, and mediaeval festival in a setting of extraordinary historic character — from the River Teme and Silurian Limestone influenced sources in the south Shropshire borderland supply zone, treated at Ludlow Water Treatment Works. At 181.5 mg/L (12.7°Clark), Ludlow's water is hard — reflecting calcium contributions from the Silurian Limestone (Wenlock Limestone, Aymestry Limestone) and Old Red Sandstone (Devonian) of the Teme valley and the Welsh borderland, with an elevated TDS/hardness ratio (2.76) suggesting sulphate from the Permo-Triassic marl that outcrops in the Ludlow basin.

Ludlow lies at the River Teme gorge in the south Shropshire Welsh borderland where the supply catchment crosses the Silurian Limestone outcrops of the Corve Dale and the Devonian Old Red Sandstone of the Clee Hills. Welsh Water supplies from the Teme and local sources, and the Silurian limestone and Permo-Triassic marl of the Ludlow basin contribute calcium and modest sulphate to produce 181.5 mg/L with TDS 501.4 mg/L — hard water characteristic of the south Shropshire borderland supply zone.

At 181.5 mg/L, limescale is a consistent household challenge in Ludlow. 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. 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. Ludlow's hard borderland supply is perhaps the one domestic imperfection in an otherwise celebrated town — the Silurian limestone ridges that frame the castle views also contribute calcium to the town's moderately hard tap water.