Hard water, or water hardness, is a term you might be familiar with. Usually, it’s associated with problems with plumbing, appliances, cleaning and even skincare. We’re here to break down what hard water is, when it’s a problem and what you can do about it.

1. Hard Water

2. Hard Water
Hard water, or water hardness, is a term you might be familiar with.
Usually, it’s associated with problems with plumbing, appliances,
cleaning and even skincare. We’re here to break down what hard water
is, when it’s a problem and what you can do about it.

3. What is Hard Water?
Hard water is water that contains a significant amount of minerals,
specifically calcium and magnesium. The term comes from the fact that
the presence of these minerals prevents soap from lathering by causing
the development of an insoluble curdy substance in the water, thus
making it “hard” to wash anything.

4. What is Hard Water?
Hardness is usually expressed in grains per gallon (gpg) or parts per
million (ppm) as calcium carbonate equivalent. The Water Quality
Association (WQA) and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers
(S-339) define the degree of hardness standard as follows:
Source: WQA
Term Grains per Gallon (gpg) Parts per million (ppm or mg/L)
Soft <1.0 <17.0
Slightly Hard 1.0-3.5 17.1-60
Moderately Hard 3.5-7.0 60-120
Hard 7.0-10.5 120-180
Very Hard >10.5 >180

5. Where is Hard Water Found?
o When water falls from the sky as rain, sleet or snow, it does not
contain calcium and magnesium and is considered soft.
o It picks up these minerals, as well as other contaminants, as it
passes over or through the earth.
o Common calcium minerals include chalk, limestone and marble.
o Hard water is found in areas where these minerals are abundant.
o It is estimated that 85% of the United States has hard water.

6. Why is Hard Water a Problem?
Hard water poses no health risks, so it is not regulated by the EPA.
However, it can wreak havoc on plumbing, household items, skin and
hair.
o When hard water is heated, it creates a layer of calcium carbonate
that causes scale to build up on pipes, appliances and fixtures. This
build up is difficult to clean and can cause extra energy to be used.
o A water heater that is running on hard water must first heat up the
layers of scale before it can heat the water. This puts a strain on the
system which can cause it to die before its time.
o A 2009 study commissioned by the Water Quality Research
Foundation and conducted by the Battelle Memorial Institute found
that running hard water through water heaters cut efficiency by up to
48%.

7. Why is Hard Water a Problem?
o Hard water leaves spots on windows, dishes, cars,
glasses, shower doors, toilets, tubs, tiles, and
fixtures.
o It causes soap to form a curd which is difficult to
rinse.
o You might have noticed a white residue on your
bathroom fixtures and shower door.
o The curd sticks to your skin, clothes and shower
doors resulting in soap scum.
o Since there’s still a layer of soap left behind, your
skin can be dry and itchy, exacerbating skin
conditions like eczema and acne.
o Your hair can appear dull and lifeless because the
soap stays behind.
o Washing clothes in hard water causes the soap curd
to get stuck in between the fibers, making them stiff
and discolored.

8. How is Hard Water Treated?
The most effective way to treat hard water is to soften it by removing the
calcium and magnesium. This can be done using a salt-based ion
exchange resin.
o Ion exchange is a process through which ions of the same charge
are exchanged between an insoluble solid and a solution in contact
with it.
o Calcium and magnesium ions present in the water coming into the
home are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions that are attached
to resin beads.
o Sodium and potassium do not cause the problems that calcium and
magnesium do.

9. How is Hard Water Treated?
o As the water passes through it, the resin becomes saturated with
calcium and magnesium.
o Luckily, the ion exchange process is reversible, meaning the resin
can be regenerated and used over and over.
o To do this, a brine solution is washed through the tank, replacing the
calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium.
o Then, the resin is ready to continue softening the water.
o Regeneration is typically set to happen when water is not being
consumed, like in the middle of the night.

10. Are You Experiencing Hard Water Problems?
Dealing with hard water can be frustrating, time-consuming and
expensive, but you don’t have to live with it. Take a look at our
residential water treatment options or read about how Puronics water
softeners work. Then, contact us to schedule a free water treatment
consultation.
o Visit www.TryPuronics.com
o Call 844-787-6642
o Email info@puronics.com
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