Water hardness and tap water in Delmenhorst
Delmenhorst, Niedersachsen · Postcode 27749, 27751, 27753, 27755
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 (17), at the waterworks
- Water hardness8.2 °dH, softNo 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): Einzelprobe vom 22.06.2026 im Delmenhorster Netz (Messstelle 6, Reglerstation Düsternortstraße). Delmenhorst wird überwiegend aus dem Wasserwerk Annenheide versorgt; den übrigen Bedarf liefert der Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesische Wasserverband zu. Die Gesamthärte von 8,2 °dH liegt knapp unter der Grenze zum Härtebereich mittel (8,4 °dH). Die Stadtwerke veröffentlichen die jeweils aktuelle Analyse über das auf ihrer Seite verlinkte Wasserportal.
Background on household plumbing, not a measurement: in Delmenhorst, 45 % of buildings with living space were built before 1970, and a further 20 % 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 Delmenhorst
- Nitrate 1.1 mg/L – about 2 % 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 8.07 – 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 Delmenhorst in everyday life
At 8.2 °dH, Delmenhorst is in the hardness range “soft” (soft: below 8.4 °dH, medium: 8.4–14 °dH, hard: above 14 °dH).
- Dose detergent for the hardness range “soft” – the lowest amount on the pack.
- Limescale deposits are rare; kettles and coffee machines only need descaling every few months.
- At this hardness you do not need limescale protection or a water softener.
Baby food and low sodium: tap water in Delmenhorst 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 Delmenhorst 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 Delmenhorst |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 20 mg/l | 20 mg/l – not above |
| Nitrate | 10 mg/l | 1.1 mg/l – not above |
| Nitrite | 0.02 mg/l | 0.12 mg/l – above |
| Sulphate | 240 mg/l | 55 mg/l – not above |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.1 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 (0.003 mg/l) – not above |
| Uranium | 0.002 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.001 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 Delmenhorst
Can you drink the tap water in Delmenhorst?
According to the verified values, yes: All tested parameters with a legal limit (17) 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 Delmenhorst?
The total hardness is 8.2 °dH – hardness range “soft”. Dose detergent for the hardness range “soft” – the lowest amount on the pack.
Is there PFAS in the tap water in Delmenhorst?
Not in measurable amounts: according to the published analysis by Stadtwerkegruppe Delmenhorst (as of 22 June 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.
Do I need to filter my tap water in Delmenhorst?
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
- Prüfbericht Nr. 26-16720 – umfassende Trinkwasseruntersuchung (Parameter Gruppe B), Messstelle 6 Reglerstation Düsternortstraße, Probenahme 22.06.2026 (Stadtwerkegruppe Delmenhorst GmbH (Prüfbericht Institut Dr. Nowak GmbH & Co. KG, DAkkS-akkreditiert))
Suggested citation: Trinkwassermonitor (2026): Tap water in Delmenhorst. Values according to the water supplier’s test report, sampling date 22 June 2026; at the waterworks, not household plumbing. https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/delmenhorst/
JSON: /api/v1/evidence?city=delmenhorst
Data as of: 22 June 2026 · verified: 22 of 22 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 Delmenhorst. Retrieved from https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/delmenhorst/.”