Did you know that approximately 85% of American homes receive hard water through their taps? But what is considered hard water?
This is water that contains higher levels of elements like magnesium and calcium. While it may seem like this means the water is contaminated, the story is a bit more complex.
Many people wonder, is hard water safe to drink?
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about the benefits of hard water and whether it is safe for you and your household.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is a specific type of water that has a higher concentration of certain minerals. As discussed above, most commonly these include calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium may be present as carbonates or also as sulfates.
The way that the hardness of the water is measured is by estimating the parts per million of the minerals dissolved in the water.
There are classifications for hardness that are set out by the US Geological Survey group. While there are no international standards for the hardness of water, most countries tend to follow this United States guideline.
Soft water on the other hand has a higher sodium content. This is a different mineral context that makes this water better for doing dishes, laundry, bathing, and other types of cleaning. While it does simplify the cleaning process, it is actually tougher on your body.
Sodium makes it more challenging to quench your thirst when you need a drink. It is essentially a form of salty water in a very low concentration.
Is It Safe to Drink Hard Water?
The simple answer is yes. Hard water poses no risks to your health. It’s safe for you to drink it, bathe in it, and use it for other household activities.
The only challenge comes when you’re moving to a region with hard water for the first time. Many people who are transitioning from a location with soft water experience some gastrointestinal upset. However, this is temporary and will improve after a few days.
Water softener installation is another potential solution.
What Is Hard Water Scale?
Hard water scale may be concerning at first or become a nuisance.
However, it is generally not a serious problem for your health or safety. Hard water can cause water scale to develop in your sinks and bathtubs.
Sometimes it will appear on your dry dishes, and over time it can potentially clog your pipes.
Fortunately, there are many products available by commercial retailers to descale these services.
What Is Considered Hard Water?
So, what is considered hard water?
At the end of the day, all you need to know about hard water is that it contains slightly higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium. These do not pose any detrimental risk to your health, however they can result in hard water scale. If you are noticing this problem, you can use a commercial cleaner to rid surfaces of the scale.
If you enjoyed this article about hard water, please check out our other home-keeping articles on pulchra.org!
