Hard Water vs Soft Water
Hard Water vs Soft Water
It’s easy to look at water and see an innocent transparent liquid. It could also be true that water is the most ‘taken-for-granted’ substance in the western world. Available on tap in almost every home in the UK, this generic substance forms the basics of our lives.
However, how much about water do we understand? And importantly (the topic of this blog), what is the difference between so-called ‘hard water’ and ‘soft water’? How could hard water affect people and what solutions are available?
Hard Water
Hard water is labelled ‘hard’ not because there’s any difference in rigidity, but because of its mineral content. It’s a well-known fact that water takes lengthy journeys to get to our homes (the water cycle), some rainfall will soak through the ground and in doing so the rainwater picks up minerals as it percolates through rock such as chalk and limestone, on its journey to your home’s water supply.
When water flows through certain clay-dense areas of the UK such as Kent and Sussex, it passes via calcium-rich mineral deposits like calcite and gypsum. On the way, water collects and builds up calcium and magnesium ions in the form of Ca2+ and Mg2+. This is hard water.
About 60% of homes in the UK suffer hard water these are mainly concentrated in central, eastern and southern areas of England.
Soft Water
Rainwater is naturally soft and when it falls on hard rock it remains naturally soft. That’s why some areas of the UK are lucky and have naturally soft water.
Softened Water
Softened water is created by removing the calcium and magnesium elements via a process known as ‘ion-exchange’. This means replacing the Ca2 and Mg2 by using a special filter or bead which exchanges the calcium and magnesium with sodium. The amount of sodium used in the exchange process will depend on how hard the water is, but the levels are very low compared to sodium levels in food.
Effects of Hard Water in Domestic Life
The effects of hard water in domestic life can be potentially quite destructive. Because hard water contains calcium and magnesium elements, there’s often a lot of film and scum left in bathtubs, clothes are left looking a bit ‘dingy’ and spots/residue can be stained on dishes. Furthermore, when hard water is heated to a specific temperature, it can leave behind a residue or hard scum called lime scale. This can be the cause of blocked pipes in sinks and showers, and can be quite costly.
Often the best way to deal with hard water is to pre-empt it by using domestic water softeners. Ecowater produce some of the world’s most advanced water softening systems ideal for battling the harshest of hard water.
For help choosing a water softener, please give us a call or use our live chat system found to the right of the page.
