If you're living in Edinburgh or planning to visit Scotland’s glorious capital, you might have wondered, “Is the Edinburgh water hard or soft?” The hardness of water varies across the UK, depending on the mineral levels, such as calcium and magnesium, found in the water. These levels can affect everything from the water’s taste and smell to how your household appliances work, so let's find out which way Edinburgh’s water leans towards. 

What is hard or soft water?

Whether you’re looking to find out if the water is hard or soft in Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, Birmingham, or anywhere else, it’s always good to know the difference between these two water types. Water’s ‘hardness’ in the UK is all down to the level of dissolved minerals in the water, including calcium and magnesium, before it flows through your taps and is measured on a sliding scale of parts per million (ppm).

Hard water contains a higher level of these minerals, which build up as the water flows through limestone or chalk rock deep underground, classing the water as ‘hard’ with a reading of 150-350ppm. Soft water, on the other hand, contains much lower levels of the same mineral types. The water picks up fewer minerals as it flows through softer rock or soils, classing it as ‘soft’ with a reading of 0-150ppm.

Is Edinburgh water hard or soft?

Edinburgh is one of the UK’s areas that benefit from soft water. But why? Scotland’s yearly rainfall can be generous, so Edinburgh gets water from groundwater and surface water supplies. Rain will fall and seep into the ground, forming underground pools that go through a natural filtration process, removing many contaminants and pollutants.

But the rainwater and mountain meltwater also keep the lochs and reservoirs in the stunning Scottish Highlands, like the Glencorse Reservoir, topped up. Both water sources are naturally low in mineral content, which means the water tastes better and has a more natural flavour. Plus, it means less limescale build-up in pipework, kettles, and appliances. 

Why the soft water in Edinburgh is better for you

For people, homes, and businesses in Edinburgh, soft water comes with several advantages that hard water areas can’t offer:

• Reduced limescale buildup: Appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and kettles last longer because they aren’t exposed to damaging hard water scaling.
• Improved soap efficiency: Soft water makes it easier to lather soap and shampoo, leading to cleaner laundry and a better shower or bath.
• Healthier skin and hair: Soft water is kinder to skin and hair, as it doesn’t leave behind mineral residue that might cause dryness and irritation.
• Better-tasting water: Softer water naturally has more flavour than hard water and, thanks to fewer chemical and mineral content, has a much nicer taste. 

Purer water from Thirsty Work

So, is Edinburgh water hard or soft? The simple answer is that Edinburgh enjoys all the benefits of soft water for cleaner, longer-lasting appliances and a more palatable taste because of its natural sources. But even after a thorough water testing and treatment process, it’s possible to get an even more pure taste with advanced filtration from Thirsty Work.

Our range of mains-fed water coolers has an inbuilt filtration system that eliminates even more impurities or contaminants that may have slipped through the net, including trace plastics. So, if the tap water still gives you the ick, why not have your home or office fitted with one of our mains-fed coolers or even one of our bottled water coolers to give you a clean, fresh taste that can’t be beaten?

Call our customer service team on 01392 877 172 or email hello@thirstywork.com today to find out more about our fast, local deliveries across the Edinburgh area – and beyond. We can give you a free quote or even get you set up with a no-obligation, 10-day free trial so you can taste the results for yourself.