Why is Malta’s Water So Hard?

Water hardness in Malta is caused by naturally occurring calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions. Malta’s geology and water sourcing make high hardness levels common:

Regionally, central and northern districts such as Mosta, Qormi, Birkirkara, Mgarr, and St Paul’s Bay often record very hard water, while Gozo and parts of the south tend to be moderately hard.

Typical Water Hardness in Malta & Gozo

Here is a simplified look at common hardness ranges and where Malta typically sits:

Water Hardness in Malta – Regional Map

Different parts of Malta and Gozo experience varying levels of hardness. The map below shows typical calcium carbonate levels (mg/L CaCO₃) and how they group into moderate, hard and very hard zones.

Is Limescale a Health Problem?

According to the WSC, limescale is a natural mineral deposit and does not compromise drinking water safety. Calcium and magnesium are in fact essential minerals that contribute to overall intake.

The real challenge in Malta is therefore not health, but the hidden cost of hard water: more energy, more cleaning, more wear and tear on your home. That’s where smart protection — including systems like Limescalefree — becomes relevant.

How Hard Water Affects Maltese Homes

Appliances: washing machines, dishwashers, boilers

When we talk about water hardness in Malta, its effects are visible everywhere — from kettles to solar panels. As limescale builds up on heating elements and inside pipes, it acts as an insulating layer: boilers and dishwashers must work harder, consuming more energy and wearing out sooner. Even a few millimetres of scale can significantly reduce heat transfer and efficiency. More breakdownsHigher bills

Taps, showers, and fixtures

White spotting on taps, dull chrome, clogged shower heads and reduced water pressure are classic signs of limescale. Even with frequent cleaning, the deposits return — often pushing households toward stronger, more aggressive chemicals. More chemicals

Water pumps, solar systems, and plumbing

Scale restricts valves and circulation loops, stressing pumps and solar heating systems. Over time, components become noisy, inefficient, and prone to failure. Premature pump wear

Detergents, cleaning and hidden costs

Hard water reduces the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, so you use more product to achieve the same result. That raises costs and increases packaging waste, especially in households that already struggle with stubborn limescale.

You might already drink filtered or bottled water to protect your health — but what about the water that flows through your machines every day?

Proven Options: From Traditional Softeners to Smart Descalers

Maltese households use several different strategies to manage hard water. Each has its own strengths — and they can even work together.

1) Salt-based ion exchange water softeners

Traditional water softeners use ion exchange resin and salt to physically remove calcium and magnesium from the water. They provide very soft water and excellent protection against scale, but they:

• require regular salt top-ups and regeneration cycles,
• increase sodium content in the water, and
• produce brine waste that must be flushed.

2) Drinking water filters and reverse osmosis

Many people in Malta install under-sink filters, RO systems or filter jugs to improve taste and reduce certain contaminants. These are ideal for what you drink, but they usually do not protect the whole plumbing network, boilers or washing machines.

3) Manual descaling and home remedies

The WSC itself recommends simple, non-aggressive methods such as vinegar or citric acid to dissolve existing limescale on taps, showerheads and kettles, combined with moderate water temperatures. This is low-cost and effective for visible surfaces — but it does not prevent scale from forming deeper inside your system.

4) Whole-house descalers and conditioners

Water descalers (also called conditioners) take a different approach. Instead of removing minerals, they modify how calcium behaves so it is less likely to stick to surfaces. Technologies include electromagnetic or electronic descalers — such as Limescalefree — which wrap coils around pipes to create a controlled electromagnetic field.

For a full comparison of softeners vs descalers, see our guide: Water Softener vs Water Descaler – Which One Fits Your Home?

The Smart Fix for Malta Homes: a Whole-House Descaler

Install a Limescalefree descaler

Installing a Limescalefree descaler is one of the most effective ways to deal with water hardness in Malta without salt or filter cartridges. A non-chemical anti-limescale system, such as Limescalefree Behind The Flow, protects your entire home without salt, filters, or regular maintenance. It uses electromagnetic technology to influence how calcium behaves in water, making it less likely to stick to pipes, heating elements and metal surfaces.

The result: cleaner pipes, boilers and appliances — and dramatically reduced limescale across your plumbing network. Installation is quick, does not require interrupting your water supply, and works alongside your existing plumbing and filters.

Maintain and monitor

• Descale kettles and taps periodically; clean shower heads monthly.
• Review your area’s hardness on the WSC website.
• Use detergents according to hardness to avoid over-dosing and residue.

Think beyond drinking water

Filtering what you drink is great — but long-term savings come from protecting the water that runs through your home every day. A whole-house descaler like Limescalefree helps prevent new scale before it forms, supporting any other solution you already use.

Conclusion – Protect Your Home, Reduce the Hidden Costs

Malta’s water is clean, safe and EU-compliant — but its Water Hardness in Malta high silently affects every machine and pipe in your home. From washing machines and dishwashers to boilers, solar systems and water pumps, limescale increases energy use, cleaning time and the risk of costly repairs.

The good news: you have options. Traditional salt-based softeners, point-of-use filters, home descaling methods and whole-house descalers all play a role. A system like Limescalefree is a particularly attractive choice if you want:

• Salt-free, chemical-free protection
• Low-maintenance operation
• Whole-house coverage (not just one tap)
• Support for existing filters and RO systems

In short, Limescalefree is a practical way to protect your system and budget in a country where hard water is here to stay.

Want to go deeper? Visit the Limescalefree Blog for more guides on limescale removal, descalers vs softeners, and real-world tips for Malta homes.