Hard Water: How to End the Frustration and Find a Solution

• Hard water contains dissolved minerals (rock) from its natural hydrological process.
• Hard water can damage your clothes, hair, skin and household appliances.
• Hard water can, in some cases, be hazardous to human health.
• A high-quality water softener is your best option for solving hard water issues.
• Angel Water provides high-quality water softeners, installation, maintenance and educational resources.

Are you tired of dealing with glasses that always look hazy and have white spots on your dishes, no matter how many times you clean them? Or, perhaps you’re frustrated with the excessive amount of laundry soap needed to clean your clothes, while a stubborn, white, chalky film keeps building up on your plumbing fixtures. If this sounds all too familiar, you’re likely battling with hard water. We understand your frustration and we’re here to help.

Hard water is a widespread issue, more common than many might think. For instance, the prevalence of red and white areas on this city water map indicates that a significant portion of the United States, including Illinois and Florida, grapples with very hard water.

A second map reveals that groundwater from domestic wells is hard in almost every state. This data underscores the shared experience of dealing with hard water, reassuring you that you’re not alone in this struggle.

But what is hard water, and why should you be concerned if you have it? Below, we answer these questions in detail and, most importantly, provide a solution to end your hard water frustrations.

What is Hard Water?

Put simply, hard water contains a lot of dissolved minerals. Most of that mineral content is calcium and magnesium, which are generally harmless and suitable for human health in appropriate doses. Of course, you can’t be sure your hard water contains appropriate doses for everyone in your family, so that may be a concern – especially for children, older adults and anyone with a health condition that makes these minerals inappropriate for consumption.

Even more concerning is that other dissolved metals could contribute to your hard water issues. These metals aren’t as harmless and include aluminum, barium, strontium, zinc, lead, manganese and iron.

How Does Hard Water Form?

Hard water is formed as part of water’s natural hydrologic cycle. Here’s how it works:

• Water evaporates from the oceans. From here, it’ll eventually be formed into clouds.
• Precipitation (like rain or snow) falls from the sky. At this stage, precipitation generally has very low concentrations of calcium and magnesium but usually does have small concentrations of sodium, sulfate and chloride.
• Precipitation travels from the soil to underground aquifers. While it journeys deeper into the Earth, the water will percolate through a lot of soil and rock. This includes thick layers of gypsum and limestone, which are rich in calcium and magnesium.
• Hard water enters the underground aquifers. The more mineral deposits in your area, the harder the water. These aquifers often feed your home’s well or serve as a city’s water source.

How Do I Know If I Have Hard Water in My Area?

The maps we mentioned above can help give you an idea of whether you have hard water in your area. You can also read through the effects of hard water, which is listed in the section below. If you believe one or more of them are happening in your family or home, there’s a good chance you’re battling with hard water.

But the only way to know for sure is to get your water tested. A water test can tell you if your water has high amounts of dissolved minerals, which positively identifies it as “hard.” Even better, professional water testing can let you know if there are other toxins in your water—like barium or radium 226/228—that are known to cause cancer.

If you haven’t had your water tested recently (or ever) and live in Barrington, IL, West Palm Beach, FL, or nearby either of those locations, Angel Water can help! Our water experts conduct in-home water testing for various toxins and contaminants.

The Effects of Hard Water

Hard water can affect your family and home in many ways. You may only have noticed one or two of these effects or seen many of them. Each case will be different due to varying hardness levels.

Health

We want to be completely upfront with you. Hard water is generally considered safe to drink. However, it should be noted that there are some cases where it might not be. Specific contaminants like barium, lead and iron can make water hard. While calcium and magnesium are the most likely culprits behind your hard water, only a water test can let you know for sure.

These specific hard water contaminants can cause a range of problems. For example:

• Barium: is a soft, silvery, alkaline earth metal with a high chemical reactivity. It’s considered a hazardous substance by all major organizations, and overexposure can cause nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, tremors, paralysis, kidney damage, liver failure and even death.
• Lead: is a dense, heavy metal. Lead poisoning can cause a range of issues, especially in children. Lead can lead to permanent nervous system damage in children, as well as behavioral disorders and intellectual disability. In all people, too much overtime can lead to coma, seizures, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and much more.
• Iron: Iron is the most common metal element on Earth by mass. Too much iron can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, liver problems, rapid breathing, seizures, low blood pressure, confusion, and more.

Remember, these three metals are unlikely to be the primary cause of your hard water. However, some of these toxins could be infiltrating your water, and only a water test can determine for sure.

Clothes

Hard water can make your clothing discolored or faded, with the results more noticeable after every wash. Why? All those dissolved rocks in the water don’t mix well with the ingredients in your laundry detergent. This can also lead to clothes that feel stiff or still dirty even after washing, causing you to use even more detergent. With time, the costs of extra detergent can become significant.

Plants

Your plants require very specific things to survive. Unfortunately, hard water can interfere with many things your precious flowers need. For example, it can interfere with nutrient uptake, affect water penetration, lead to mineral buildup in the soil, alter soil pH and hamper root health.

The result? Your plants will wither and eventually die if they rely on hard water for hydration.

Skin

Hard water can make your skin feel dry and itchy. Excess minerals found in the water will mix with ingredients in your soap, creating a scum that sticks to your skin and stops moisture from penetrating the way it should. This can lead to peeling, flaking, redness and other annoying side effects.

If you have skin issues, hard water can exacerbate them. For example, people with eczema or psoriasis may find they’re having more severe breakouts more often. Wrinkles may become more pronounced, and acne breakouts can worsen in many cases.