Boxgrove Residents have hard water –  here’s why

Unless you already have a water softener in your home, living in Boxgrove means you will have hard water in your mains supply. This is because of the soil types in West Sussex and much of the south-east of England. Often of chalk, it is full of calcium and magnesium minerals – and it is these minerals that turn soft rainwater hard.

Although not harmful, hard water isn’t great for the skin. It can make it dry and can aggravate conditions like eczema and dermatitis. As for hair, it can go lanky and listless from too much washing in hard water and laundry tends to go starchy and lose its softness. Hard water is also the primary cause of limescale, that nasty, scaly build-up that collects around taps, shower screens, sinks and baths. It also accumulates in dishwashers, washing machines and kettles. No matter how much you clean, the scale will keep reappearing.

As for central heating systems, it won’t take long for hard water-induced limescale to clogg up pipework and settle in the water tank. Within months, the boiler’s performance can start to be affected, meaning you use more energy to deliver the correct amount of heat and hot water – resulting in higher fuel bills and a boiler that could be prone to breakdown and early replacement.

That’s why people have water softeners – to enjoy all the lifestyle benefits soft water brings. It’s fantastic for everyday washing, cleaning and cooking. Plus your skin and hair will be ever grateful.

The water hardness reading for Boxgrove tends to be around 240 parts per million (ppm). Anything over 200ppm is considered hard, so Boxgrove is well up there on the scale. With a high quality, cost-effective Scott Jenkins water softener in your home, that reading will plummet to practically zero.

Boxgrove – an Overview

Annual rainfall: 28.24 inch or 717.30mm.

The village of Boxgrove is situated about 3.5 miles north-east of Chichester and has a population of just under 1000 residents. Boxgrove lies just south of the A285 road that follows the line of the Roman road, Stane Street. The parish includes the hamlets of Crockerhill, Strettington and Halnaker.

Boxgrove is best known for the Lower Palaeolithic archaeological site discovered in a gravel quarry known as Amey’s Eartham Pit, which was re excavated between 1983 and 1996, leading to the discovery of flint tools and animal remains dating back 500,000 years.

In the 12th century, a Benedictine monastery (Boxgrove Priory) was founded and today is a prominent historic ruin in the village. As long ago as 1622, several Boxgrove parishioners were prosecuted – for playing cricket in the churchyard.