Background on Hardness

SOURCES

Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. The higher the amount of minerals, the higher the hardness of the water.

CONCERNS

Hardness is not a health risk, it actually contributes a small amount to the total calcium and manganese daily human requirements. It does however cause mineral build-up on fixtures, poor soap and detergent performance. Scale build-up of calcium and manganese may cause clogs in piping, and has been known to increase energy bills by up to 25%.

REMEDIES

Some tips to combat hardness are to choose soaps and detergents to match the hardness of your water; reduce the temperature of your boiler to ~55°C to reduce mineral deposits; and use white vinegar or rinse agents in your dishwasher to remove the film from dishes.

For more information check out the links below:

• https://www.rdn.bc.ca/cms/wpattachments/wpID2284atID3802.pdf
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/softening.html