Do we have soft water in the Netherlands?

We often hear people say: ‘But we don’t have any in the Netherlands, do we?’ hard water? Surely my water supplier removes the limescale? It is true that water suppliers do carry out some softening, but they only do so up to a certain level. The law stipulates that water suppliers may soften water to a maximum of 5.6 dH. That is why the average water hardness of Dutch tap water is also 8dH.

Is the water quality in the Netherlands high?

Yes. In fact, the water quality is among the best in the world. Why do people still choose a water softener The reason to buy one is that there is still a lot of limescale in the water. Admittedly, this may be relatively low compared with other countries, where water hardness levels of up to 40 dH are sometimes measured, but it is more than enough to cause significant problems. You may experience problems even with a water hardness of 2.4 dH.

How much calcium is there in the water in the Netherlands?

The Water hardness in the Netherlands is expressed in German degrees (°dH). It indicates the amount of calcium carbonate in our water. 1°dH means that there are 17.8 grams of calcium carbonate per 1,000 litres of water. In the Netherlands, the average water hardness is 8°dH. This means that, based on an annual water consumption of 150m³, you will accumulate one kilogram of limescale in your pipes every two weeks. So the higher the °dH, the more limescale there is in the water.

Why choose a water softener?

The reasons for buying a water softener after all relate to a completely different aspect of water quality, namely the fact that there is still limescale in the tap water. A The water softener ensures that 100% of limescale is removed from the tap water.  It keeps your bathroom looking good without you having to scrub it. What’s more, a water softener prevents limescale build-up in your appliances, which would otherwise cause them to break down much sooner. The water softener also means you need to use fewer detergents and cleaning products. So it’s good for the environment too.

What are the effects of hard water?

The harder the water – in other words, the higher the dH level – and the warmer the water, the faster limescale builds up. Limescale looks like white, rough patches. You’ll soon notice it on your shower wall or on black taps. But limescale also builds up in places where you can’t see it, such as in your pipes, dishwasher, coffee machine or washing machine. It isn’t visible on the outside.

Bacteria and mould are more likely to develop on a surface with limescale. Special limescale removers are needed to remove the limescale. Over the course of a year, this costs you a lot of time and money. No wonder, then, that more and more people in the Netherlands are opting for soft water and, consequently, a water softener. With a water softener, you have 100% soft water.

What is the water hardness in my town?

If you’d like to know the water hardness in your area, please visit the ‘What is water hardness?‘. This shows the water hardness for each municipality in the Netherlands.

See also: What is soft water?

What types of water softeners are there?

We offer various types of water softeners. Please see the ‘Buying a water softener‘. Here you can see the different types of water softeners. You can also a no-obligation quote for a water softener requests. In this quotation, we will provide you with a bespoke offer tailored to your situation.