How hard water affects us?

Hard water is the is a type of water that contains high mineral content that makes it way into the mains water supply at home or in the workplace. It is made up of two chemical compounds, Calcium and Magnesium although others, like Iron can be dissolved too. If left untreated it can cause limescale build up that will damage any electrical appliances and plumbing over time.

Hard water causes scaling in hot water systems, kettles, and other domestic appliances in the workplace. You will notice that any build-up will create blockages in your pipework and lead to a premature failure of water heaters. It can even reduce water flow to taps and affect the taste of tea, coffee and other drinks. You will notice a film on the surface of your tea and coffee and taps with a crusty residue around the outlet.

But despite its many disadvantages, hard water is safe to drink and if anything, is extremely beneficial towards our health. It can fulfill our dietary needs of essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium and even help lower cardiovascular disease mortality in the long run. Hard water can however have negative effects on our hair and skin, reducing moisture levels and making our hair and skin feel less clean to the touch. It could also instigate dry skin problems. This can occur due to hard water having a positive charge, while our skin and hair have a negative charge, resulting in any minerals lingering and drying out our skin.

Most people can drink hard water with no side effects. But it can be very harmful to our appliances causing plumbing problems, damage to water absorbing appliances, causing significant wear and tear. Water softeners can help remove any damage caused by hard water, by removing minerals and treating the water to prevent future limescale build-up.