Hard water is common throughout many regions within the UK, however many people do not realise what this can imply to our health and lifestyle.
The term hard water refers to any water containing a high level of dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, among others. These are minerals in the ground that came into contact with the water. Water from a well is very likely to be hard because it is drawn directly from the ground with no processing.
Water is a good solvent, which means it dissolves other substances easily. However, it also picks up impurities very easily. So as water moves through rock and soil, it dissolves small amounts of minerals and holds onto them, turning it in to hard water. The degree of hardness becomes greater as the amount of mineral content increases.
On the other hand, soft water is treated water that only contains the positively charged ion of sodium. Rainwater has no minerals, so it is naturally very soft. Often, hard water has a characteristic taste from the minerals and soft water may taste salty.
Drinking hard water does contribute a small amount of calcium and magnesium to the human body. However, hard water can be treated in many different ways including water softeners, electromagnetic water conditioners, and water filters.
Although hard water is not a health hazard, it does affect our daily tasks and the lifespan of household appliances. Hard water reduces the cleansing power of soap and produces scale in hot water lines and appliances. This in return can affect everyday household chores such as laundering, bathing, and dishwashing.
Clothes washed in hard water might look worn or feel scratchy. The minerals in the water combine with soils in the clothing to form insoluble salts, which makes them very difficult to remove. Washing clothes in hard water continuously can damage fibers and shorten the lifespan of the clothing items.
Bathing in hard water, using soap often leaves a soap film on skin. While detergent soap will lather in hard water, often body soap won’t form a lather. The film may prevent removal of bacteria and disrupts skin’s normal condition, possibly leading to irritation. Soap film left on hair may make it dull and difficult to manage.
Hard water can affect washing dishes, especially in a dishwasher. Washing in hard water may cause spotting on dishes, cups, and silverware. When the minerals in hard water come in contact with heat, they are released faster, causing spotting.
While the hard water alone may not taste different, it might affect your coffee or tea. Coffee is known to develop a bitter undertone when brewed with hard water. Delicate green teas can take on a new flavor all together when made with hard water. Build up in coffee or espresso makers could occur as a result of the lime scale.
Minerals in hard water can also have an effect on the appliances in a home. When hard water is heated, it forms lime scale deposits that can disrupt the operation of water using appliances. Even pipes may clog with the lime scale, which reduces water flow and may require pipe replacement. The presence of lime scale could increase an energy bill up to 25 percent. A similar buildup can also occur in solar heating systems, which are often used for heating swimming pools. The buildup will reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump, which decreases the overall performance.
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