How Rugby compares
At 212 mg/L (14.9 °Clark), Rugby is 13% below the median of the 411 English towns on this map (243 mg/L). It ranks 236 of 411 for hardness (1 is the hardest).
Water hardness in Rugby
Rugby has hard water: expect visible limescale and plan to descale regularly.
Data
| Value | 212 mg/L calcium carbonate 14.9 °Clark, 11.9 °dH |
|---|---|
| Band | hard |
| Area | Warwickshire |
| Population | 78,117 |
| Water company | Severn Trent Water |
| Postcode checked | CV21 3BY (Newbold Rugby) |
| Checked | 21 Oct 2026 |
| From the source | “"hardnessClark":"14.89","hardnessGerman":"11.91","hardnessFrench":"21.27","level":"Hard"” |
What it means for your home
Hard water drops a lot of scale when it is heated: in the kettle, the shower head and the element of an immersion heater or washing machine. Chalky rings on taps and spotty glasses are normal.
Set the dishwasher for hard water, dose detergent for your band and descale regularly. If you have a combi boiler, ask about a scale reducer at its next service. Hard water is safe to drink.
How often to descale
As a rule of thumb for hard water, kettles and shower heads need descaling every three or four weeks. Descale whenever you see scale building up.
Common questions
Is hard water bad for you?
No. Hard water carries calcium and magnesium, minerals the body uses. Whether tap water is safe depends on germs and pollutants, which water companies test for, not on hardness.
Do I need a water softener in Rugby?
The water company's figure for Rugby is 212 mg/L (14.9 °Clark), which is hard water. Usually not straight away. Set the dishwasher, dose detergent for your band and descale regularly. Get quotes for a softener only if scale is clearly damaging your boiler or appliances.
How do I find the value for my address?
Use your water company's postcode checker. Hardness can differ between districts, so check your own postcode, or test with strips or a drop test.
Nearby towns
Daventry 15 km Coventry 17 km Bedworth 18 km Royal Leamington Spa 20 km Hinckley 20 km Nuneaton 22 km Kenilworth 22 km Warwick 24 km