Hard, unconditioned water is a problem throughout much of the country. But, according to Green Water Technologies, it’s not a health risk. However, it does have an effect on the body and the home.
Hard, unconditioned water has 60 mg/L of calcium or more. Drinking water with high levels of this mineral – plus magnesium – can actually boost health by potentially lowering a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, there are many more downsides than potential perks.
According to Green Water Technologies, hard water is perfectly safe to drink. But what it does on the outside of the body is a nuisance at best. Hard water leaves deposits of calcium and magnesium on the skin, hair, and nails. This strips the moisture and natural oils out of each, and can leave you feeling itchy all day long. Hard water can also initiate or worsen eczema and dandruff.
The home is another area where hard water can have a significant negative impact. Green Water Technologies uses laundry as an example. If you notice that your clothes tend to lose color quickly or feel rough or scratchy after several washes, hard water may be the problem. Even more concerning is that hard water can leave nasty deposits inside of the moving parts of appliances such as your dishwasher and washing machine. What this does is reduces these expensive appliances' useful life, meaning you have to replace them much sooner.
Fortunately, there is a solution. Green Water Technologies explains that having a whole home water filtration system installed can reduce hard water running through your pipes and thus through your home. Although this does reduce the amount of calcium you intake, this is easily remedied by simply drinking more milk or taking a calcium supplement.
