TrinkwassermonitorTap water in Germany

Water hardness and tap water in Gaggenau

Landkreis Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg · Postcode 76571

This page is a translation of the German version; the German page is authoritative. German version · Report a translation error

Short answer: Depending on the address, Gaggenau receives water from three supply zones: Gaggenau Kernstadt und Murgtal at 8.5 °dH, Hörden at 6.5 °dH and Michelbach, Sulzbach, Freiolsheim, Moosbronn, Mittelberg at 7.4 °dH, hardness ranges “medium” and “soft” (as of January 2026). All tested parameters with a legal limit (26) meet the limits set by the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). Source: test report by Stadtwerke Gaggenau. WaterScore: 100 out of 100 (data coverage: 7 of 7 core parameters).
three waters depending on the district: The values above apply to the water “Gaggenau Kernstadt und Murgtal”, according to the supplier for Gaggenau, Bischweier, Oberweier, Winkel, Bad Rotenfels, Ottenau, Selbach. Other waters: “Hörden” and “Michelbach, Sulzbach, Freiolsheim, Moosbronn, Mittelberg”. The supplier does not publish how many addresses each water supplies.

Verified drinking-water values: water “Gaggenau Kernstadt und Murgtal”

ParameterValueLimit (TrinkwV)Sampling dateSourceStatus
Nitrate17.4 mg/L
50 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Nitritebelow the limit of quantification0.5 mg/L
January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
PFAS (sum)0.028 µg/L
0.1 µg/L

January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Leadbelow the limit of quantification0.01 mg/L
January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Arsenicbelow the limit of quantification0.01 mg/L
January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Uranium0.0002 mg/L0.01 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Mercurybelow the limit of quantification0.001 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Copperbelow the limit of quantification2 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Cadmiumbelow the limit of quantification0.003 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Chromiumbelow the limit of quantification0.025 mg/L
January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Chloride10.5 mg/L250 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Sulphate17.2 mg/L250 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Sodium7.6 mg/L200 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Calcium50.9 mg/L–January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Magnesium5.7 mg/L–January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
pH7.56.5–9.5January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Total hardness8.5 °dH (medium)no legal limitJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Electrical conductivity342 µS/cm–January 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Fluoridebelow the limit of quantification1.5 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Ironbelow the limit of quantification0.2 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Manganese0.007 mg/L
0.05 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Ammoniumbelow the limit of quantification0.5 mg/LJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified
Coliform bacteria0 KBE/100ml0 per 100 mlJanuary 2026Stadtwerke Gaggenauverified

Note from the test report (in the German original): Tabelle der Stadtwerke, Veröffentlichung Januar 2026, ohne Probedatum je Spalte; ein genauer Tag ist daher nicht angegeben. Die Werte gelten für Gaggenau, Bischweier, Oberweier, Winkel, Bad Rotenfels, Ottenau und Selbach, für die Höhenorte und für Hörden stehen eigene Spalten. Summe PFAS-20 hier 0,028 µg/l; eine neuere Netzprobe der Stadtwerke vom 06.07.2026 ergab 0,014 µg/l und für PFAS-4 0,009 µg/l (Grenzwert PFAS-20 seit 12.01.2026 0,1 µg/l, PFAS-4 ab 12.01.2028 0,02 µg/l). Die Tabelle nennt die Bestimmungsgrenzen nicht als Zahl („< BG“).

Is a value wrong or out of date? Report an error – we check every report against the original source.

Water at your own tap: The values describe the water the supplier delivers – not automatically the water at your tap. The water supplier is responsible up to the service connection (Hausanschluss); the building owner is responsible for the pipes beyond it. Lead can dissolve from lead pipes, leaded solder joints or old brass fittings, especially when water has stood in the pipes for a long time (stagnant water); this mainly affects buildings constructed before about 1973. If water has stood in the pipes for several hours, let it run until it comes out cool. If you suspect lead pipes, a lead analysis of the stagnant water by an accredited laboratory will help.

Background on household plumbing, not a measurement: in Gaggenau, 52 % of buildings with living space were built before 1970, and a further 15 % 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 Gaggenau

Water hardness in Gaggenau in everyday life

At 8.5 °dH, Gaggenau is in the hardness range “medium” (soft: below 8.4 °dH, medium: 8.4–14 °dH, hard: above 14 °dH).

Baby food and low sodium: tap water in Gaggenau 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 Gaggenau 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)

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.

Values at the waterworks next to the maximum levels for bottled water “suitable for infant food”
SubstanceMaximum levelValue in Gaggenau
Sodium20 mg/l7.6 mg/l – not above
Nitrate10 mg/l17.4 mg/l – above the bottled-water threshold
Nitrite0.02 mg/lbelow the limit of quantification – cannot be assessed
Sulphate240 mg/l17.2 mg/l – not above
Fluoride0.7 mg/lbelow the limit of quantification – cannot be assessed
Manganese0.05 mg/l0.007 mg/l – not above
Arsenic0.005 mg/lbelow the limit of quantification – cannot be assessed
Uranium0.002 mg/l0.0002 mg/l – not above

Against the other thresholds of Annex 6, the water would qualify as: low in sodium (“suitable for a low-sodium diet”) (Sodium 7.6 mg/l, threshold below 20 mg/l).

Questions about baby food are answered by your midwife, your paediatrician and the health office (Gesundheitsamt).

Frequently asked questions about tap water in Gaggenau

Can you drink the tap water in Gaggenau?

According to the verified values, yes: All tested parameters with a legal limit (26) 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 Gaggenau?

It depends on the address: Gaggenau Kernstadt und Murgtal 8.5 °dH, Hörden 6.5 °dH and Michelbach, Sulzbach, Freiolsheim, Moosbronn, Mittelberg 7.4 °dH. The waters are in different hardness ranges (“medium” and “soft”); detergent and descaler should follow the water at your address.

Is there PFAS in the tap water in Gaggenau?

Yes, in measurable amounts: according to the published analysis by Stadtwerke Gaggenau (as of January 2026), the sum of PFAS-20 is 0.028 µg/l – that is 28 % of the limit of 0.1 µg/l, which has applied since 12 January 2026. Whether the limit of 0.02 µg/l for the sum of PFAS-4, which applies from 12 January 2028, is met cannot be read from the sum of PFAS-20.

Do I need to filter my tap water in Gaggenau?

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

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 v4: how we calculate the WaterScore.

Evidence: cite and check

Suggested citation: Trinkwassermonitor (2026): Tap water in Gaggenau. Values according to the water supplier’s test report, sampling date January 2026; at the waterworks, not household plumbing. https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/gaggenau/

JSON: /api/v1/evidence?city=gaggenau

Data as of: January 2026 · verified: 23 of 23 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 Gaggenau. Retrieved from https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/gaggenau/.”

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