Finding water information on your supplier's website: gh/kh and more

[geeky]

Morning all,

I've been browsing through various threads, both here and on other forums, and I've noticed a lot of discussions about water GH and KH levels. It's something we've never actually tested for, to be honest. We've been using the API liquid kit, but we've only been using the pH test in the kit.

I'm curious to learn more about our GH and KH numbers now, so I've been trying to find some information on our water supplier's website. However, I'm having a bit of trouble tracking down the specific information I'm looking for. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

We're based in the North West UK, by the way.

[matti]

United Utilities actually uses the Clark scale for water hardness, I've found. I've taken a look at their quality charts and I don't think they list GH and KH values specifically.

[geeky]

Thanks Matti,

I did see the United Utilities page but to be honest, it's all a bit confusing - I'm not sure what any of it means in relation to GH and KH. If they don't use those measurements, is there another way to find this out?

[sSjey]

You're actually given both GH and KH, albeit in different units. Hardness degrees Clark is essentially GH, just presented in an alternative unit. To make sense of it, you'll need to convert it. There are numerous units for GH, which can be quite confusing.

To find your GH, simply head to the calculator on the forum, navigate to the Converter section, and select hardness. Enter the Clark number in the Clark box, and you'll see your corresponding GH value in the dH box, as well as your hardness in ppm in the mg/l CaCO3 box. Some fish profiles list hardness in dH, while others use ppm, so it's essential to have both.

Regarding KH, look at the table in Matt's post and switch to the 'full' view. You'll find 'alkalinity as CaCO3' listed, which is essentially KH. Take note of the number in the 'average' column – that's your KH in ppm.

[TankWarrior]

You can try searching the county office website for local water info, might be able to find what you're looking for there.

[sSjey]

You can try searching the county office website for local water info, might be able to find what you're looking for there.

In the UK, it's a bit more straightforward than in other countries. You just need to head to the website of the water supplier that's listed on your bill. These companies can cover a pretty small area, or a massive area that includes loads of towns and cities, so it's worth checking their site for the information you're looking for.

[mirko]

I've found the page for Scottish Water, it's their Water Quality Search on their website. For those in Scotland, you can check it out here - www.scottishwater.co.uk. I'm guessing other countries have similar pages, but in the UK, it's usually best to check with your local water supplier's website, as the areas they cover can vary greatly.

[sSjey]

I came across this image on the Ofwat website, it's a map showing which water company supplies each area of England and Wales. It's interesting to see the varying sizes of the areas covered by each company. Does Scotland have multiple water suppliers or is it all under Scottish Water?

[mirko]

It seems to be just Scottish Water.

[FishArch]

Hi @geeky, I've found that getting in touch with the water company directly yields the best results. Try to find the person responsible for drawing and treating the water - they often have a chemistry background and can be a wealth of information. I once met a guy who was thrilled someone was interested in his work and shared his personal number with me. Do your research beforehand so you know exactly what data you're looking for. I've had success with this approach in multiple countries. Give them a call - you might need to do some digging to find the right person, but trust me, it's worth the effort.