The Water Dictionary

Tap Water in CA16

CliburnUnited Utilities

Tap water in Cliburn, supplied by United Utilities, has the character of a blended surface and groundwater supply, with no dominant mineral signature. It's slightly hard, around the national midpoint, with a total hardness of 166 mg/L as CaCO₃.


Mineral composition

mg/L
Calcium58
Magnesium5
Sodium10
Sulfate15
Chloride18
Bicarbonate134

Additional info

Hardness166 as CaCO₃
Alkalinity110 as CaCO₃
pH6.8
Conductivity335 µS/cm
SourceUnited Utilities
Data year2025

What this means

Kettle & appliances

Light limescale will accumulate in kettles and on heating elements over weeks. A periodic descale (monthly or so) will keep things in check, but it's not urgent.

Espresso

Hardness at this level starts to affect espresso machines more noticeably. Scale will form in boilers over months, and the water's buffering will round off some of the brighter acidity in the cup. Regular descaling becomes worthwhile.

Filter & pour-over

Filter coffee starts to lose some of its top-end brightness here. Lighter roasts will taste rounder and less distinctive than they would with softer water, though medium and darker roasts hold up well. The cup won't be flat, but the crispest acidity is softened.

Drinking & cooking

A faint mineral taste may be noticeable if you're paying attention. Vegetables and pulses cook normally; rice and pasta are unaffected.

Bicarbonate

The buffering starts to become assertive: darker beer styles (porters, milds, brown ales) benefit from this level as it supports higher mash pH, but espresso will begin losing some of its brighter acidity, producing a rounder, heavier cup that flatters darker roasts while muting lighter ones.


Closest water profiles


Nearby areas


Data sourced from United Utilities (2025). Looking for a specific address? Look up your full postcode for the most accurate result.