Greater London's reputation for hard water is well-known, but what does it mean for your long-term health if you live and work there? Customers often ask, ‘Is hard water bad for you?’ so, by looking into the distinctions of hard water and its potential effects, we aim to highlight any potential impacts of London's mineral-rich water on your health and daily life.

What is hard water?

Hard water is a type of water in Greater London and the southeast that contains high levels of calcium and magnesium minerals. These natural minerals are present in groundwater (from deep, underground pockets) as they travel through rock layers, picking up these ions along the way and giving the water a ‘harder’ taste. 

How hard is hard water?

Water’s mineral content is how you can tell how hard or soft it is. The hardness of water is typically measured on a sliding scale of parts per million (PPM) of the minerals contained in it. Water from the average household tap could be graded at around 100 ppm, giving a medium water hardness. Very soft to medium water will range from 0 to 100 ppm, while the medium to hard water in London and the south-east ranges from 100 to 200 ppm.

Can you tell if you have hard water?

You can't tell if you have hard water just by running the tap. But, there are a few tell tale signs that Londers will be more than familiar with. Calcium and magnesium in hard water can lead to visible issues, including limescale build up in plumbing, kettles, and around taps and spots of mineral deposits on surfaces.

But the real giveaway is how the water tastes. Hard water often has a chalky or chemical taste, putting people off drinking it directly from the tap. This specific taste is because of its higher levels of naturally dissolved minerals and gasses.

Is hard water bad for you?

Hard water containing minerals like calcium and magnesium is not harmful or bad for you when you drink it. In fact, it can provide essential nutrients that your body needs. Thames Water controls the mains water supply across London and the southeast and carries out around 500,000 annual tests for Total Dissolved Solids, pH value, and bacteria count to ensure 100% water safety. 

Taste the difference with Thirsty Work

While Greater London’s hard water is entirely safe to drink, people often use water filters at home to remove some of the mineral content, making the water ‘softer’ and improving its taste. But because of its hardness, we’re seeing more and more London-based domestic and commercial customers switching to Thirsty Work for their tap water.

Connecting directly to your mains tap water supply, our range of mains-fed water coolers feature advanced filtration systems for water purity, eliminating leftover bad tastes, odours, and trace plastics. With freestanding and countertop models giving you a cost-effective way to enjoy 100% filtered, great-tasting water, our London depot can install your unit the next day or even the same day so you can take advantage immediately.

So, if you want that pure, fresh water taste from your mains supply, contact the Thirsty Work team today at 020 3740 9480 or 020 3740 948 or email us at hello@thirstywork.com. We can give you your free quote and set you up with your 10-day, no-obligation free trial so you can taste the difference.