What is Hard Water?
It’s estimated that at least 85% of the United States has what most refer to as “hard water”. Hard water forms as water sits or flows through the earth, picking up soluble bits of whatever it passes through. While this can mean contamination that makes the water unfit to drink, it most often means that the water has absorbed minerals like calcium and magnesium. The amount of these “dissolved solids” in our water is what determines its hardness. By the time water arrives in our homes, it usually has enough dissolved solids to form scale.
The map below illustrates the average hardness of municipal water across the United States.
Hard water is most infamous for the crystalized deposits it leaves on household surfaces; but it can also build up in pipes and fixtures, reducing water flow and damaging appliances.
It can also affect the efficacy of soaps and detergents. When water is hard, these cleaners don’t dissolve completely, instead combining with minerals present to form a soap curd. This sticky, coagulated goo clings to skin and household surfaces, inhibiting cleaning and giving hair & skin a dull, lifeless feel. In washing machines, soap curd can work its way into our clothes, trapping dirt & odors or stiffening and roughening fabric. This insoluble soap can also leave spots on dishes, cars, bathtubs, and showers. To compensate, we often use more detergent; but that approach—while sometimes effective—can often compound the problem.
