Water hardness and tap water in Neuss

Name: Water hardness and tap water in Neuss
Creator: Trinkwassermonitor
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Nordrhein-Westfalen · Postcode 41460, 41462, 41464, 41466, 41468, 41469 …

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

Short answer: The tap water in Neuss has a total hardness of 14.66 °dH, hardness range “hard” (as of 2026). All tested parameters with a legal limit (17) meet the limits set by the German Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). Source: test report by Stadtwerke Neuss. WaterScore: 96.8 out of 100 (data coverage: 7 of 7 core parameters).

Limits of the Drinking Water OrdinancemetAll tested parameters (17), at the waterworks
Water hardness14.66 °dH, hardNo 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	34.83 mg/L 70 % of the limit	50 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Nitrite	0.01 mg/L	0.5 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
PFAS (sum)	0.024 µg/L 24 % of the limit	0.1 µg/L in force since 12 January 2026 from 12 January 2028: additionally PFAS-4 0.02 µg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Lead	< 0.001 mg/L	0.01 mg/L from 12 January 2028: 0.005 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Arsenic	< 0.001 mg/L	0.01 mg/L new plants from 2028, all from 2036: 0.004 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Uranium	0.00613 mg/L 61 % of the limit	0.01 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Mercury	< 0.0001 mg/L	0.001 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Copper	< 0.01 mg/L	2 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Chloride	54.9 mg/L 22 % of the limit	250 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Sulphate	90.38 mg/L 36 % of the limit	250 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Sodium	75.36 mg/L 38 % of the limit	200 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Calcium	76 mg/L	–	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Magnesium	17.35 mg/L	–	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
pH	7.41	6.5–9.5	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Total hardness	14.66 °dH (hard)	no legal limit	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Electrical conductivity	862 µS/cm	–	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Fluoride	0.11 mg/L	1.5 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Iron	0.02 mg/L 10 % of the limit	0.2 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Manganese	0.01 mg/L 20 % of the limit	0.05 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Ammonium	0.19 mg/L 38 % of the limit	0.5 mg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Coliform bacteria	0 KBE/100ml	0 per 100 ml	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified
Trihalomethanes (THM)	< 0.1 µg/L	50 µg/L	2026	Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH	verified

Note from the test report (in the German original): Stadtwerke Neuss weisen zwei Versorgungszonen aus: Neuss-Nord (Wasserwerk Broichhof) und Neuss-Süd. Die hier primär gezeigten Werte sind Neuss-Nord; abweichende Neuss-Süd-Werte stehen als Zusatzangabe in originalValue. Bei Routineuntersuchungen wurden in Neuss-Nord leicht erhöhte PFAS-4-Werte festgestellt (0,018 µg/l, Vorsorgewert ab 2028: 0,020 µg/l); das Gesundheitsamt bestätigte, dass keine Grenzwertüberschreitung vorliegt. Ein Probenahme- oder Berichtsdatum nennt das PDF nicht, nur die Bezeichnung „Trinkwasseranalyse 2026“; angegeben ist deshalb nur das Jahr 2026. PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS/PFBS werden hier nicht einzeln ausgewiesen, nur als Summe PFAS-20/PFAS-4.

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 Neuss, 47 % of buildings with living space were built before 1970, and a further 17 % 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 Neuss

Nitrate 34.83 mg/L – about 70 % of the limit of 50 mg/L and comparatively high for a city waterworks; the cause is usually nitrate from agriculture entering the raw water. Boiling does not reduce nitrate.
PFAS (sum of PFAS-20) 24 ng/L – about 24 % of the limit of 100 ng/L (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 6.13 µg/L – within the checked range against a limit of 10 µg/L. In some regions uranium occurs naturally from the rock (geogenic).
pH 7.41 – 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 Neuss in everyday life

At 14.66 °dH, Neuss 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 Neuss 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 Neuss 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)

Values at the waterworks next to the maximum levels for bottled water “suitable for infant food”
Substance	Maximum level	Value in Neuss
Sodium	20 mg/l	75.36 mg/l – above
Nitrate	10 mg/l	34.83 mg/l – above
Nitrite	0.02 mg/l	0.01 mg/l – not above
Sulphate	240 mg/l	90.38 mg/l – not above
Fluoride	0.7 mg/l	0.11 mg/l – not above
Manganese	0.05 mg/l	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	0.00613 mg/l – 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 Neuss

Can you drink the tap water in Neuss?

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: 96.8 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 Neuss?

The total hardness is 14.66 °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 Neuss?

Yes, in measurable amounts: according to the published analysis by Stadtwerke Neuss (as of 2026), the sum of PFAS-20 is 0.024 µg/l – that is 24 % 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 Neuss?

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.

Is the nitrate level in Neuss a concern?

The value of 34.83 mg/L is below the limit of 50 mg/L, but higher than in many other evaluated cities. The limit of the Drinking Water Ordinance also applies to preparing baby food; mineral water labelled “suitable for preparing infant food” („geeignet für die Zubereitung von Säuglingsnahrung“) may contain at most 10 mg/L nitrate. Boiling does not help against nitrate.

WaterScore

Total96.8 / 100
Chemical safety88.3 / 100
Heavy metals93.2 / 100
PFAS100 / 100
Nutrients87.4 / 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

Trinkwasseranalyse 2026 für das Versorgungsgebiet der Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH (Stadtwerke Neuss Energie und Wasser GmbH) · SHA-256 of the evaluated file: c4aee7ff9c20278e…, checked on 3 October 2026

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

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

Data as of: 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 Neuss. Retrieved from https://trinkwassermonitor.ink/en/tap-water/neuss/.”