This document discusses water and its treatment. It begins by explaining the importance of water for life and its various uses. The main sources of water are identified as rainwater, river water, spring/well water, and seawater. Each source is described in terms of its composition and purity. Various types of impurities in water are classified as dissolved, suspended, or biological. Hard water is defined as water that does not form lather easily with soap due to dissolved calcium and magnesium ions. The document provides examples of hardness levels and units used to measure hardness. It also distinguishes between temporary and permanent hardness. Several sample problems are included to demonstrate calculations for determining total, temporary, and permanent water hardness based on dissolved ion concentrations