Water hardness and tap water in Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Rheinland-Pfalz · Postcode 67059, 67061, 67063, 67065, 67067, 67069 …
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 (20), at the waterworks
- Water hardness13.4 °dH, mediumNo legal limit, only a range
- Data coverageCore parameters: 7 of 7Score based on complete data
Verified drinking-water values
| Parameter | Value | Limit (TrinkwV) | Sampling date | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2 mg/L | 50 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Nitrite | < 0.005 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| PFAS (sum) | < 0.002 µg/L | 0.1 µg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Lead | < 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Arsenic | < 0.001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Uranium | < 0.0001 mg/L | 0.01 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Mercury | < 0.0001 mg/L | 0.001 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Copper | 0.007 mg/L | 2 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Cadmium | < 0.0002 mg/L | 0.003 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Chromium | 0.002 mg/L | 0.025 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Nickel | < 0.005 mg/L | 0.02 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Chloride | 52 mg/L | 250 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Sulphate | 2 mg/L | 250 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Sodium | 47.4 mg/L | 200 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Calcium | 80 mg/L | – | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Magnesium | 9.8 mg/L | – | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| pH | 7.29 | 6.5–9.5 | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Total hardness | 13.4 °dH (medium) | no legal limit | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Electrical conductivity | 693 µS/cm | – | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Fluoride | < 0.05 mg/L | 1.5 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Iron | < 0.05 mg/L | 0.2 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Manganese | < 0.01 mg/L | 0.05 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Ammonium | 0.12 mg/L | 0.5 mg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Coliform bacteria | 0 KBE/100ml | 0 per 100 ml | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
| Trihalomethanes (THM) | < 1 µg/L | 50 µg/L | January 2026 | Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL) | verified |
Note from the test report (in the German original): TWL · „Ergebnis der Trinkwasseruntersuchung“, Stand Januar 2026, für Wasserwerk I „Parkinsel“ (Hemshof, Mitte, West, Süd, Gartenstadt, Mundenheim, Rheingönheim). Ein Probenahmedatum nennt das Blatt nicht, deshalb ist nur der Monat angegeben. Die TWL ordnet die Gesamthärte von 13,4 °dH (2,41 mmol/l) als „hart“ ein; nach den Grenzen des Wasch- und Reinigungsmittelgesetzes (mittel bis 2,5 mmol/l) liegt sie im Bereich mittel. Wasserwerk II „Maudach/Oggersheim“ (Pfingstweide, Edigheim, Oppau, Oggersheim, Friesenheim, Ruchheim, Maudach) liefert weicheres Wasser mit 9,9 °dH (mittel), dort ist Arsen mit 0,005 mg/l gemessen (Grenzwert 0,01 mg/l). Der Wert für Ihre Adresse hängt vom zuständigen Wasserwerk ab.
Background on household plumbing, not a measurement: in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, 62 % of buildings with living space were built before 1970, and a further 9 % 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein
- Nitrate 2 mg/L – about 4 % 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 7.29 – 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein in everyday life
At 13.4 °dH, Ludwigshafen am Rhein is in the hardness range “medium” (soft: below 8.4 °dH, medium: 8.4–14 °dH, hard: above 14 °dH).
- Dose detergent for the hardness range “medium”.
- As a rule of thumb, descale the kettle about every four to six weeks and the coffee machine as the manufacturer recommends.
- A limescale protection device is not a must at medium hardness; regular descaling is often enough.
Baby food and low sodium: tap water in Ludwigshafen am Rhein 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 20 mg/l | 47.4 mg/l – above |
| Nitrate | 10 mg/l | 2 mg/l – not above |
| Nitrite | 0.02 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.005 mg/l) – not above |
| Sulphate | 240 mg/l | 2 mg/l – not above |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.05 mg/l) – not above |
| Manganese | 0.05 mg/l | below the detection limit (0.01 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 (0.0001 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Can you drink the tap water in Ludwigshafen am Rhein?
According to the verified values, yes: All tested parameters with a legal limit (20) 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein?
The total hardness is 13.4 °dH – hardness range “medium”. Dose detergent for the hardness range “medium”.
Is there PFAS in the tap water in Ludwigshafen am Rhein?
Not in measurable amounts: according to the published analysis by TWL (as of January 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein?
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
- Ergebnis der Trinkwasseruntersuchung – Wasserwerk I „Parkinsel“, Stand Januar 2026 (Technische Werke Ludwigshafen AG (TWL)) · SHA-256 of the evaluated file: c6c8ff7c881afb90…, checked on 3 October 2026
Suggested citation: Trinkwassermonitor (2026): Tap water in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. 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/ludwigshafen/
JSON: /api/v1/evidence?city=ludwigshafen
Data as of: January 2026 · verified: 25 of 25 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 Ludwigshafen am Rhein. Retrieved from https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/ludwigshafen/.”