Well Water Hardness

Higher levels of these and other minerals make water hard.

Well water hardness.

Water hardness chart for sizing water softener systems. Hard water is not a health hazard but dealing with hard water in the home can be a nuisance. This page is designed to explain to the customer what is considered to be hard water. Hard water is not a health concern but it can lead to excessive scale buildup in water pipes boilers hot water heating systems and other equipment that uses water.

The hardness calcium and magnesium concentration of water can be approximated with a home use water testing kit or can be measured more accurately with a laboratory water test. Considered very hard water at 11 15 gpg exhibits all the signs of hard water all the time. Water softening systems work by. Water hardness map of the united states water hardness table of classifications and links to more information about water softening and effects.

The water table usually sits atop a hard bedrock layer which depending on the makeup of your local geology can contain water soluble. Hard water has a noticeably unpleasant flavor but is still potable. Water that is classified as hard has 150 300 ppm of minerals dissolved in it. Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone chalk or gypsum which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates bicarbonates and sulfates.

A well used to be a long and wide shaft that would be dug deep into the soil to reach the water table beneath the ground. The hardness of water is determined primarily by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Water systems using groundwater as a source are concerned with water hardness since as water moves through soil and rock it dissolves small amounts of naturally occurring minerals and carries them into the groundwater supply water is a great solvent for calcium and magnesium so if the minerals are present in the soil around a water supply well hard water may be delivered to homes. Water softeners are much more efficient when you get the correct size.

And if you re on well water you may also be seeing other problem water signs such as iron stains. Extremely hard water is anything over 15 gpg. Hard water usually requires water softening equipment to make it usable for a home. Hard water is water that has high mineral content in contrast with soft water.

A water table is a collection of water that seeps through the ground from precipitation and nearby bodies of water. It is very important that you determine your hardness before buying your water treatment equipment. An even bigger nuisance to most homeowners is the fact the hard water does not clean laundry or dishes as well as soft water and it requires more soap or shampoo to create suds.