Water Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink

Soft Water Characteristics

Washing hands, dishes, and clothes with soft water will create suds with a minimal amount of soap or detergent. Soft water has had the excessive calcium and magnesium and other minerals removed through various processes.

Although our bodies require calcium, magnesium, iron and other minerals to stay balanced, excessive amounts can produce dangerous levels of these compounds in our systems.

Collected rainwater in a bucket used to rinse your hair after washing will leave hair silky soft. Rainwater does not have chemicals added until it mixes with the soil and enters our waterways. Once it passes through the ground, it accumulates minerals in it’s travels and thus becomes hard water.

Hard Water Characteristics

Hard water contains large amounts of calcium, magnesium and other minerals. There are several theories in the consumption of hard water. Some say it is healthy to drink the water containing all these minerals added compounds. The question is “what’s excessive”?

There have been theories that drinking excessive amounts of hard water can create coronary disease. The other argument is that hard water is healthy as our bodies require these minerals and compounds. It may come down to amounts of minerals and compounds needed to maintain a healthy body.

Washing hands, dishes and clothes using any soap or detergent will create very little or no suds at all. This is an instant determinant the water is hard.

One way of telling hard water is to boil some water in a pot. Hard water will leave a scaly white film in the container showing where the level of the water was when boiled. Boiling hard water DOES NOT remove excessive chemicals.

Hard and Soft Water Classification

Water is not classified as soft or hard water. Classifications are measured by the amount of chemical compounds in the water, pH (power of hydrogen) and temperature.

Zero to 60 milligrams is Soft Water

61 to 120 milligrams is Moderately Hard Water

121 to 180 milligrams is Hard Water

181 Plus milligrams is considered Very Hard Water

How is Hard Water Softened

Water can be softened by filtering out the calcium, magnesium, and minerals. Exchanging ions such as Ca, Mg and minerals with salt reduce the hardness in water. That is why soft water will have a salty after taste in some cases. There are ‘salt-free’ water softeners available.

You may want to make an appointment with a water softener specialist to discuss the best filtering system for your water or process to ensure your water supply is adequately filtered for your usage.

Knowing about the water in your Berkeley home is important. Call Albert Nahman Plumbing at (510) 876-9725 to learn more about treatment options!