We get a lot of questions about hard water vs soft water health considerations, and we’re here to answer some of the big ones for you. If you’re concerned about the potential health risks of hard and soft water, this article is for you.
Click on each link to jump ahead to that section:
1. Hard Water vs Soft Water: What's the Difference?
2. Hard Water vs Soft Water Health Considerations
3. Is soft water safe to drink?
4. Hard Water vs Soft Water Health: What’s Better?
At WaterSmart, we have almost 30 years of experience in the water softener industry and we'd love to share our expertise with you.
Hard Water vs Soft Water Health Kitchener-Waterloo
1. Hard Water vs Soft Water: What's the Difference?
If your water is hard, it’s because it contains large amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Soft water, therefore, has those and other minerals removed from your drinking water.
80% of Kitchener-Waterloo water is groundwater. The groundwater in the KW region is hard, meaning that it has naturally occurring dissolved calcium and magnesium.
Water hardness is measured in milligrams per litre, which can also be called parts per million or ppm.
Another common way to refer to water hardness is in grains per U.S. gallon (gpg). You can learn more about water hardness by clicking here.
The Kitchener-Waterloo region has some of the hardest water in all of Canada. The city of Kitchener ranges between 17 and 36 grains per gallon (gpg) or 291 and 615 parts per million (ppm).
To put this in perspective, the water hardness average across Canada is only 10.5 gpg.
The water in our region is about 2 to 3 times harder than the Canadian average.
2. hard water vs soft water health Considerations
Consider the following hard water vs soft water health factors:
Eczema
According to a study from King's College in London, researchers are finding that high levels of water hardness in your home could be linked to the development of eczema early in life.
This is because hard water and chlorine found in water may cause a breakdown of the skin's natural barrier thus leading to eczema in infants. This breakdown allows allergens to penetrate your baby's skin and make it more prone to allergic response.
The study found that babies living in a hard water area were up to 87% more likely to have eczema at 3 months of age. Having soft water in your home could help prevent your baby from developing eczema.
Other skin and hair irritations
The minerals in hard water can make your skin and hair dry. You may also notice that your scalp feels itchy.
These minerals can also alter the PH balance of your skin which can weaken its protective barrier and make you more susceptible to bacteria and infections.
Soft water, on the other hand, rinses clean. You'll find that you require less soap and shampoo when bathing with soft water because it lathers and rinses off better than hard water.
If you have dry skin or eczema, soft water may be a better choice for you.
3. is soft water safe to drink?
Softened water lacks minerals like magnesium and calcium.
So, if you’re deficient in these areas of your diet, a multivitamin or calcium or magnesium supplements may be enough to meet your daily needs.
Since water softening requires salt, there’s a greater concern for people with high blood pressure.
Some folks with high blood pressure are advised against adding salt to their food, so they may be advised against softening their home drinking water.
4. Hard Water vs Soft Water health: What’s Better?
When comparing hard water vs soft water, there are a few things you need to know.
First off, when you wash your clothes in hard water, they may get mineral stains on them. Hard water also makes the fibers in your clothing more brittle so they tend to wear out faster.
Soft water, however, is gentler on your clothing and it requires less detergent to clean your clothes.
If you have hard water, you will probably notice spots on your glasses and silverware when you take them out of the dishwasher. These spots are caused by the calcium carbonate found in hard water.
Soft water doesn't contain or has very little calcium carbonate, so your dishes come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean.
A water softener is a must, especially if you’re located in the kitchener-waterloo region.
hard water vs soft water health: ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF SOFT WATER
A water softener can help you solve your hard water problem. The professionals at WaterSmart can help you choose the most effective water softener for the level of hardness in your particular area.
We have been servicing the KW region for almost 30 years, so we understand the special requirements and settings necessary to ensure that your new water softener will function with maximum efficiency.
Our customers have come to recognize us as a company that provides superior customer service combined with the highest quality products at the best prices.
Contact the water softener specialists at WaterSmart today and get a water softener installed!
WHERE TO FIND US
14-105 Lexington Road, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4R7
Phone: 519-886-7331
Fax: 519.886.8021
Email: info@watersmartsystems.com
Mon-Wed: 8:30 am-5 pm
Thu: 8:30 am - 7 pm
Fri: 8:30 am-5 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Please note: The store will be closed on all long weekends, both Saturday and the scheduled holiday Monday
“We would highly recommend WaterSmart Systems Waterloo to anyone who is in need of a water softener. Everyone who we talked with at this company was professional, knowledgeable, and so very helpful when we were in need of a replacement for our softener. We are confident that you will be impressed with both their product, and their workmanship.”
