Do I need a water treatment system?

“Hard” water is not a health concern, so a decision to treat your water is a personal one based on how important the advantages of treated water are to you and your family.  Treating your water supply can extend the life of your water using appliances, and you will use less soap, shampoo and other cleaners with soft water therefore saving money over the long run.  Spending less time cleaning (soap scum and iron stains) and having your clothes, hair and skin cleaner and softer are all benefits of treated water.

Is “hard” water harmful to my health?

Hard water is generally not harmful to one's health; however over time hard water will cause damage to your pipes and water using appliances (icemakers, hot water heaters, coffee makers, etc.). Untreated hard water can also leave a soapy film on your clothing, hair and anything you clean. Water with high iron content can also leave stains on sinks, toilets and appliances that use water.

What is “hard” water?

When water is referred to as 'hard' this simply means that it contains more minerals than ordinary water. Calcium and magnesium are the most prevalent.  The more calcium and magnesium dissolved in the water the greater the degree of hardness the water will have.

Where can I learn more about the water quality in our area?

If you are on city water in the United States, Canada or other developed countries, and want to learn more about your water source or water chemistry, a good place to contact is your local water utility. In the United States, every water utility is required to publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report or CCR, which describes the sources of your water, the water chemistry, and any problems or violations related to your water. To see if your water system has put their CCR online, go to the EPA's "Local Drinking Water Information".

Why won’t soap and other cleaners dissolve in hard water?

Magnesium and calcium are positively charged ions. Because of their presence, other positively charged ions will dissolve less easily in hard water than in water that does not contain calcium and magnesium.  This prevents soap and other compounds from easily dissolving in hard water.