What is hard water?
Hard water is probably the most common water problem found in the home. Hard water spots your glasses and dishes, makes laundry dull, and causes soap scum and scale to build-up making cleaning a chore. The most common hardness causing minerals are calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in a water supply. According to the Water Quality Association, hard water is water that contains dissolved hardness minerals above 1 GPG (grains per gallon). Relative levels of hardness have been established: • Soft Water – less than 1 gpg • Slightly hard – 1 to 3.5 gpg • Moderately hard – 3.5 to 7 gpg • Hard – 7 to 10.5 gpg • Very Hard – 10.5 and higher gpg Using an ion exchange water softener is the most common form of treatment. Click here for more information on hard water.
Water is called “hard water” if it contains excessive amounts of certain minerals – particularly calcium and magnesium, because these substances leave a hard scale on surfaces that come in contact with the water. You can tell you have hard water if there’s build-up on your sinks and bathtubs, or if you have to use large amounts of soap to clean dishes or wash your hair.
Hardness in drinking water is primarily caused by two minerals; calcium and magnesium. If calcium and/or magnesium are present in your water in substantial amounts, the water is said to be hard because making a lather of suds for washing is difficult to do. Water containing little calcium or magnesium is called soft water.
Hard water is probably the most common water problem found in the home. Hard water spots your glasses and dishes, makes laundry dull, and causes soap scum and scale to build-up making cleaning a chore. The most common hardness causing minerals are Calcium and Magnesium that is dissolved in a water supply. According to the Water Quality Association, hard water is water that contains dissolved hardness minerals above 1 GPG (grains per gallon).
