Water Hardness FAQs
Q: Why is water described as "hard"?
A: Hard water describes water that has a high level of dissolved minerals, typically calcium and magnesium. This water is not harmful to your health; in fact the calcium and magnesium are contributing to your daily dietary needs.
The water can be viewed as a nuisance causing lime scale; the dissolved minerals being deposited on any surface coming in to contact with the water; including your bathroom suite and kitchen sink, together with glass, cutlery and crockery.
Q: Can I reduce the hardness of my water?
A: Yes, there are primarily two ways to control the hardness of your water:-
a. add chemical softeners, as required, to your washing machine, dishwasher or bath tub.
There are two types, precipitating and non-precipitating.
The precipitating, such as washing soda, forms an insoluble precipitate with the calcium and magnesium preventing them from reducing the cleaning power of your detergents. They also increase the alkalinity of the water and may be harmful to your skin.
The non-precipitating use phosphates to "capture" the calcium and magnesium ions and avoids the formation of a precipitate and an increase in the alkalinity of the water.
b. use an ion exchange water softener
Water passes through crystals, beads or salts that have a very high sodium content. The magnesium and calcium attach themselves to the crystals at the same rate that the sodium is released in to the water. The crystals or salts must be either recharged or replaced periodically once they are either saturated with calcium or magnesium or spent.
A third system uses electro-magnets to charge the particulate matter held in suspension in your water and therefore prevent it from forming a deposit. The effects of this system are temporary, the charge being held by the particles for a fairly short period of time.
