Rugby Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
18.7°Clark26.6°fH14.9°dH
Source
mixed
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
793.7 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
£0.60
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 Rugby, your appliances are currently losing 35% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Rugby | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 1.5 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -82% |
| Washing Machine | 3.8 yrs | 12 yrs | -68% |
| Water Heater | 5 yrs | 15 yrs | -67% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Rugby compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | Clark° | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rugby, West Midlands | 266 mg/L | 18.7° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Daventry, East Midlands | 251 mg/L | 17.6° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
| Hinckley, East Midlands | 124 mg/L | 8.7° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Earl Shilton, East Midlands | 137.5 mg/L | 9.6° | 🟠 Hard | mixed |
| Bedworth, West Midlands | 201 mg/L | 14.1° | 🔴 Very Hard | mixed |
National Benchmark
How Rugby compares to the United Kingdom average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Rugby | 266 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 Rugby's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Rugby, the market town in east Warwickshire, is supplied by Severn Trent Water from the Welsh upland aqueduct and local groundwater resources. While the primary supply includes water from the Elan Valley Reservoir system in mid-Wales, Rugby's east Warwickshire position on the Jurassic Lias sequence — the sequence of interbedded limestones, mudstones, and ironstones that forms the east Midlands escarpment — means local groundwater from the Liassic formations makes a substantial contribution to the supply blend. The Jurassic Lias of north Warwickshire and the Rugby area yields groundwater with very high dissolved calcium and magnesium from limestone and ironstone-bearing marl dissolution, raising the blend to consistently hard values.
Rugby's very hard water — 266 mg/L (18.7°Clark) — reflects the dominance of Jurassic Lias groundwater in the east Warwickshire supply zone. The Liassic sequence beneath and around Rugby — Lower Lias limestone beds alternating with calcareous mudstones and clays — yields highly mineralised groundwater as rainwater percolates through the limestone horizons, dissolving calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate from the rock matrix. This Liassic contribution far exceeds the soft Elan Valley baseline. The high TDS value reflects the richly mineralised groundwater characteristic of the Jurassic Lias country of east Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) classifies this supply as very hard.
Limescale is a serious household challenge in Rugby. At 266 mg/L, limescale forms rapidly in kettles — a visible white crust within one to two weeks requiring fortnightly descaling. Combi-boiler heat exchangers face serious limescale risk; annual servicing with limescale inspection and a polyphosphate scale inhibitor are strongly recommended. Showerheads, taps, and shower screens develop heavy deposits. Washing-up liquid lathers poorly. A whole-house water softener is a worthwhile consideration for Rugby homeowners with high-value appliances.
Geology & Source: Supplied by Severn Trent Water from a blend of Elan Valley upland supply and Jurassic Liassic Limestone groundwater — Rugby's east Warwickshire position on the Jurassic Lias escarpment introduces very high calcium groundwater from Liassic limestone and marl dissolution, producing very hard water at 266 mg/L (18.7°Clark).