I’m sure almost all of us have heard the terms hard water and soft water before, but how many of us know what it means? I mean, isn’t all water soft…and why does it matter anyway? Well we all remember from middle school chemistry that water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen (remember H2O) but there’s almost always more in the water coming from our tap than just hydrogen and oxygen.
One of these chemicals in particular, limestone, causes water to be hard. Limestone makes it into our water as it naturally filters through the soft rock in rivers, streams, and lakes. This makes hard water and will cause soap not to suds as well thus leaving us, our clothes and our dishes not as clean as they could be. Therein lies the big problem with hard water.
Hard water can also leave behind hard, scaly deposits in things like boilers, washing machines and water heaters. In areas with hard water, residents have to find a way to treat hard water, or remove much or all of the limestone deposits, to get soft water. Enter easywater.com and easy water.
Large communites are sometimes served by water treatment facilities that turn hard water into soft water for everyone. Most however, do not and it is left up to the home owner to treat their own water. Most of the water treatment options to treat hard water involve a mineral called zeolite which will remove the hard water chemicals but who’s lifespan is not very long. It can be refreshed by a good wash in salty water, but that introduces problems of its own. Easy water has made available a no salt water conditioner that will soften hard water without the need for salt and salt water. I’m anxious to see how well easywater.com and easy water do.
I really question the health benefits of purified or bottled water. I know that in certain places that are really dry or have very poor water supplies that it is almost required.
People should be checking there quality of their water and most of the times it will be better for you than bottles stuff.
limestone deposits are the bain of my life. I live in a hard water area and regularly have to clean out my kettle, washing machine and dishwasher. The cost of cleaners for limestone deposits adds up. It is worth it though but I am looking at getting a water treatment system.
What happens to the Ca. How is it removed???