Water hardness and tap water in Achim
Landkreis Verden, Niedersachsen · Postcode 28832
This page is a translation of the German version; the German page is authoritative. German version · Report a translation error
- Limits of the Drinking Water OrdinancemetAll tested parameters (19), at the waterworks
- Water hardness15.3 °dH, hardNo legal limit, only a range
- Data coverageCore parameters: 7 of 7Score based on complete data
Verified drinking-water values
Note from the test report (in the German original): Verfolgsprobe vom 29.09.2026 am Ausgang des Wasserwerks Wittkoppenberg in Achim-Ueserdicken (S. 9–11 des PDF, Analysennr. 414825). Der Trinkwasserverband Verden betreibt drei Wasserwerke; nach den vom Verband im Wasserportal hinterlegten Versorgungsgebieten wird Achim aus Wittkoppenberg versorgt. Sie umfasst nur einen Teil der Stoffe; die übrigen Werte stammen aus der Vollprobe vom 08.09.2026. Gesamthärte 15,3 °dH – Härtebereich hart. Die Werte gelten ab Wasserwerk. Einzelprobe vom 08.09.2026 am Ausgang des Wasserwerks Wittkoppenberg in Achim-Ueserdicken (Untersuchung Gruppe A und B, S. 1–8 des PDF). Der Trinkwasserverband Verden betreibt drei Wasserwerke; nach den vom Verband im Wasserportal hinterlegten Versorgungsgebieten wird Achim aus Wittkoppenberg versorgt. Gesamthärte 15,2 °dH – Härtebereich hart. Alle 20 PFAS liegen unter der Bestimmungsgrenze. Eine Verfolgsprobe vom 29.09.2026 im selben PDF nennt neuere Werte für einige Stoffe; diese gelten dort, wo sie vorliegen. Die Werte gelten ab Wasserwerk.
Background on household plumbing, not a measurement: in Achim, 37 % of buildings with living space were built before 1970, and a further 21 % between 1970 and 1979 (Zensus 2022, Statistisches Bundesamt, dl-de/by-2-0). (Zensus 2022) According to the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), lead pipes exist at most in houses built before 1973 – and by no means in all of them. Whether there are any in your house is known to the owner or a plumber. (UBA)
What the values mean for Achim
- Nitrate 1.44 mg/L – about 3 % of the limit of 50 mg/L and in the unremarkable range. Boiling does not reduce nitrate.
- PFAS (sum of PFAS-20) – not detectable in the sample evaluated. The limit of 0.1 µg/L (100 ng/L) has applied since 12 January 2026.
- Lead – not detectable at the waterworks. Lead gets into the water almost only through old lead pipes in household plumbing, not via the supplier.
- Uranium – not detectable at the waterworks (limit 10 µg/L).
- pH 7.78 – within the range of the Drinking Water Ordinance (6.5 to 9.5). The pH determines how corrosive the water is in household plumbing.
Water hardness in Achim in everyday life
At 15.3 °dH, Achim is in the hardness range “hard” (soft: below 8.4 °dH, medium: 8.4–14 °dH, hard: above 14 °dH).
- Dose detergent for the hardness range “hard” – a larger amount is needed; a water softener for the washing machine can save detergent.
- Limescale builds up quickly: descale the kettle about every two to three weeks, and taps and shower heads too.
- In your own house, limescale protection or a water softener can be worthwhile at this hardness; in a rented flat, the owner decides.
Baby food and low sodium: tap water in Achim next to the bottled-water thresholds
Bottled water may only be labelled “suitable for preparing infant food” („geeignet für die Zubereitung von Säuglingsnahrung“) if it keeps to the maximum levels of the German Mineral and Table Water Ordinance (Mineral- und Tafelwasser-Verordnung, Annex 6). Here the published values for Achim are shown next to them, each substance on its own. This is a comparison with labelling thresholds for bottled water, not a statement on whether your tap water is suitable for baby food. (Min/TafelWV, Anlage 6)
| Substance | Maximum level | Value in Achim |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 20 mg/l | 35 mg/l – above |
| Nitrate | 10 mg/l | 1.44 mg/l – not above |
| Nitrite | 0.02 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.001 mg/l) – not above |
| Sulphate | 240 mg/l | 37 mg/l – not above |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/l | 0.12 mg/l – not above |
| Manganese | 0.05 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.005 mg/l) – not above |
| Arsenic | 0.005 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.001 mg/l) – not above |
| Uranium | 0.002 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.00001 mg/l) – not above |
For context: the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) considers preparing baby food with bottled water carrying this label necessary only in rare cases, for example when tap water is temporarily allowed to contain more than 50 mg/l nitrate. (UBA 2016, p. 59) Water from lead pipes in the house is always unsuitable for infants. (UBA 2020, p. 16) The values apply at the waterworks. Questions about baby food are answered by your midwife, your paediatrician and the health office (Gesundheitsamt).
Frequently asked questions about tap water in Achim
Can you drink the tap water in Achim?
According to the verified values, yes: All tested parameters with a legal limit (19) meet the limits set by the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). WaterScore: 100 out of 100 (data coverage: 7 of 7 core parameters). This applies to the water from the waterworks – restrictions can only arise from old household plumbing.
How hard is the water in Achim?
The total hardness is 15.3 °dH – hardness range “hard”. Dose detergent for the hardness range “hard” – a larger amount is needed; a water softener for the washing machine can save detergent.
Is there PFAS in the tap water in Achim?
Not in measurable amounts: according to the published analysis by Trinkwasserverband Verden (as of 8 September 2026), PFAS were below the laboratory’s limit of quantification. Since 12 January 2026, a limit of 0.1 µg/l has applied to the sum of PFAS-20. This means the sum of the four substances PFOA, PFOS, PFNA and PFHxS (PFAS-4) is also below the limit of 0.02 µg/l, which applies from 12 January 2028.
Do I need to filter my tap water in Achim?
Based on the verified supplier values, a filter is not necessary. It can make sense if you do not like the taste. If you suspect lead pipes in an old building, a filter does not help; a laboratory analysis at the tap does – that is a question of the household plumbing, not of the water leaving the works.
WaterScore
- Total100 / 100
- Chemical safety100 / 100
- Heavy metals100 / 100
- PFAS100 / 100
- Nutrients100 / 100
- General parameters100 / 100
- Data timeliness100 / 100
- Data quality100 / 100
Data coverage: 7 of 7 core parameters. Missing parameters are neither estimated nor counted as harmless: the score is based only on the values available. It is not a health assessment and says nothing about the water beyond the service connection. Methodology v3: how we calculate the WaterScore.
Evidence: cite and check
- Prüfberichte Analysennr. 392332 (Probenahme 08.09.2026) und 414825 (Verfolgsprobe, 29.09.2026) – Wasserwerk Wittkoppenberg, Werksausgang (Trinkwasserverband Verden (Prüfberichte AGROLAB Umwelt GmbH, DAkkS-akkreditiert)) · SHA-256 of the evaluated file: 5865790c756e8079…, checked on 19 October 2026
Suggested citation: Trinkwassermonitor (2026): Tap water in Achim. Values according to the water supplier’s test report, sampling date 29 September 2026; at the waterworks, not household plumbing. https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/achim/
JSON: /api/v1/evidence?city=achim
Data as of: 29 September 2026 · verified: 24 of 24 evaluated parameters.
This page shows only verified test data with sources, or states explicitly where data is missing (no estimated values). Cite as: “Trinkwassermonitor (2026). Tap water in Achim. Retrieved from https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/achim/.”