Is Croydon a hard water area?
Yes. Much of the water in this part of south London comes from chalk, which dissolves calcium and magnesium into it. That dissolved mineral is what “hard” means, and it’s measured in milligrams of calcium carbonate per litre.
Thames Water’s own scale counts 200 to 300 mg/l as hard and anything over 300 as very hard. Its 2024 water quality report for its Croydon North supply zone gives a hardness of around 254 mg/l.
Who supplies your water
- Thames Water supplies the north of the borough
- SES Water covers much of the south: its supply area starts around South Croydon
Both publish hardness by postcode. Look yours up on Thames Water or SES Water.
What hard water does in a bathroom
- Shower heads: limescale blocks the nozzles, so the spray goes weak and uneven
- Thermostatic valves: scale stiffens the cartridge, so the temperature drifts or jumps
- Glass screens: dried water leaves white spots that build into a cloudy film
- Taps and wastes: crusty build-up round spouts and plugholes
- Grout and silicone: scale and soap scum cling to rough surfaces and stain them
Fittings that cope with hard water
Shower heads with rub-clean nozzles
Soft rubber nozzles let you rub the scale off with a thumb instead of soaking the head in descaler. It sounds small, but it’s the difference between a shower that stays strong and one that slowly fades.
A good thermostatic valve
Choose a valve with a replaceable cartridge from a brand whose parts are easy to get. When scale eventually takes its toll, a new cartridge fixes it without opening the wall.
Glass with a protective coating
Many screens come with a factory coating that helps water run off. It makes cleaning much easier, especially if you squeegee after showering.
Tiles and grout that are easy to keep clean
Large-format tiles mean fewer grout lines for scale to cling to. Mid-grey grout hides marks better than bright white, and an epoxy grout resists staining in the shower itself.
Leaking or weak shower already?
Keeping on top of it
- Squeegee the glass and tiles after showering
- Rub the shower head nozzles once a week
- Wipe taps dry after use where you can
- Use a descaler suited to your finish: some products damage brass, black or brushed fittings
- Reseal the shower when the silicone starts to blacken or lift
What about a water softener?
A whole-house softener stops scale everywhere, from the shower to the kettle. It’s a bigger decision than a bathroom fitting: it needs space near where the water comes in, regular salt, and a separate unsoftened tap for drinking water. Worth considering if limescale is a problem throughout the house; not something to rush into for the bathroom alone.