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Drummondville's tap water comes from the Rivière Saint-François and is treated at the City's water treatment plant. The City says the water in its system has a total hardness of 90 mg/L as an annual average. That is moderately hard water, on the softer side of the range and well below the 120 mg/L line where hard water starts. The City does not say which year this average covers, so treat it as a general guide.
Data last reviewed October 24, 2026.
Drummondville ranks #16 hardest of 31 cities in the Canadian Hard Water Report 2026. See the full ranking
In other units
Source: Ville de Drummondville, Drinking water FAQ (in French). Data for: Annual average published by the City, no year given. Checked October 24, 2026.
Some scale builds up over time, mostly where water gets heated: kettles, coffee makers and washers. A monthly clean keeps it in check.
At this hardness, grease and detergent residue are the bigger issue, so start with the dishwasher.
Only dishwashers with a built-in water softener have a hardness setting. Here is the setting for this water, worked out from each maker's own table.
| Brand | Setting |
|---|---|
| Bosch and ThermadorCanadian models with a softener. H:00 is off. | H:00 |
| GaggenauSame ranges as Bosch. The display shows the °E band. | 0-8 |
| MieleSet in °dH. Below 5, Miele says no salt is needed. | 5 |
| Fisher & PaykelDishDrawer models with a softener. 0 is off. | 0 |
Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Sources: Bosch SHX78CC5UC manual, Thermador DWHD661EFP manual, Gaggenau DF481701 manual, Miele dishwasher manual (Canada), Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer guide
Softeners take hardness in US grains per gallon: the figure in mg/L divided by 17.12, rounded up.
| Brand | Setting |
|---|---|
| Nespresso Essenza PlusHardness level, and cups between descalings | Level 1 (3,000 cups) |
| Jura E8Hardness setting | 5 °dH |
Sources: Nespresso Essenza Plus manual, Jura E8 manual, Breville Barista Touch manual, De'Longhi descaling FAQ, Keurig descaling page
Hard water leaves scale on the heating element and the drum, and more detergent residue behind.
Dissolves grease, detergent residue and limescale buildup, and removes odour-causing buildup.
Clears grease, limescale and odour buildup
Breaks down residue and odour-causing buildup inside your washer.
Removes odour and buildup from the drum and hoses
Removes limescale, mineral buildup and coffee oils inside your coffee maker.
Descales for better-tasting coffee
We use the U.S. Geological Survey scale, in mg/L as CaCO₃.
Utilities usually report hardness in mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is the same as ppm. Dishwasher and softener manuals often use grains per gallon or German degrees instead. Here is how they convert:
Moderately hard, on the soft side. The City of Drummondville gives an annual average of 90 mg/L. Water counts as hard above 120 mg/L, so Drummondville stays well below that line.
From the Rivière Saint-François. The City treats the water at its water treatment plant before it goes into the distribution network.
A little. Water leaving Sherbrooke's J.-M.-Jeanson plant averaged 73 mg/L in 2025, and Drummondville gives an annual average of 90 mg/L. Both are moderately hard.
Now and then. At about 90 mg/L, scale builds up slowly in kettles and coffee makers. Descaling the coffee maker every few weeks and cleaning the dishwasher and the washer about every two weeks keeps buildup and odours in check.
For dishwashers with a built-in water softener, each maker's table gives: Drummondville water treatment plant: Bosch and Thermador H:00, Gaggenau 0-8, Miele 5, Fisher & Paykel 0. Most North American dishwashers, including Bosch models sold in the United States, have no water softener and no hardness setting. With those, use rinse aid and run a dishwasher cleaner once a month.
Drummondville water treatment plant: 6 grains per US gallon (rounded up).
Drummondville water treatment plant: 5.3 grains per US gallon, or 6.3 grains per imperial gallon.
Ville de Drummondville, Drinking water FAQ (in French). Data for Annual average published by the City, no year given. We update this page when a new report comes out.
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