What makes the water in Guildford so hard?

Along with the vast majority of the county of Surrey, Guildford suffers from hard water. It’s all to do with the type of chalky soil that the town sits upon, which is full of minerals like calcium and magnesium, that turn the soft rainwater hard. It is no surprise, then, that many Guildford residents choose to have water softeners fitted in their homes, to reduce the amount of hard water. The hardness can cause a build-up of limescale, making surfaces stained and grimy. Hard water is also detrimental to your skin, hair and laundry.

In terms of the water hardness level for Guildford, the measurement is made in parts per million (ppm). Locally, the reading is around 280ppm and, with anything above 200ppm being classed as hard, Guildford’s mains water supply is classed as extremely hard. When rainfall levels are high, this reading can go even higher at times.

Guildford – an Overview

Annual rainfall: 23.90 inch or 607mm.

Guildford is the county town of Surrey, situated midway between London and Portsmouth. In 2018, the wider Borough of Guildford had an estimated 147,889 inhabitants.

Although dating back to Saxon times, given its location alongside the River Wey, Guildford’s prosperity was greatly enhanced during the 17th and 18th centuries with the construction of the Wey Navigation and the Basingstoke Canal waterways. Today, during the summer months, the National Trust runs various trips on the Wey Navigation, starting from Dapdune Wharf near the town centre.

A small castle overlooks the locale and, although Guildford is commonly referred to as a town, it also has an Anglican cathedral, technically making it a city.

In 1901, the Dennis Brothers built England’s first purpose-built car factory in Guildford. Today, Guildford’s hilly, cobbled High Street and surrounding retail locations provide some of the best shopping facilities in the region. It’s also regarded as one of the most expensive – and best places – to live in England.