Hard Water
Two common minerals in the Arizona soil—calcium
and magnesium—create one of the most notable changes
in your tap water—water hardness. These tasteless,
harmless minerals dissolve in the water, and create
what is known as hard water.
Hard water makes up about 85 percent of the nation’s
drinking water, according to the U.S. Geologic
Survey. Water hardness in Mesa ranges from 12 gpg
(grains per gallon) to 22 gpg, depending on the
water source that serves your area. The white,
chalky film that you may find on the faucets or
shower doors in your home is evidence of hard
water.
Although hard water poses no health risk, it can
create numerous challenges for the consumer. For
example, the higher the hardness value, the more
effort it takes for soap to perform its cleansing
action. In addition to reducing the effectiveness of
soap, hard water can leave soap deposits in sinks,
and leave spots on dishes and glassware. Hard water
can also create scaly calcium deposits on faucets,
showerheads, and evaporative coolers, as well as the
inside of pipes, hot water heaters, and automatic
dishwashers. There are numerous commercial cleaning
products that can help remove calcium scale
build-up, and some soaps are formulated to work
better in hard water.
The primary method of reducing water hardness
available to the consumer is the installation of an
ion exchange water softener. An ion exchange water
softener removes hardness (calcium and magnesium
ions) by replacing them with sodium, or in some
instances potassium. Sodium levels in softened water
increase approximately 8 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
for each grain of hardness removed. For example, if
your water has 12 gpg total hardness, sodium levels
will increase 96 mg/L when the water is softened. If
your water source has 22 gpg hardness, softened water
will contain an additional 176 mg/L of sodium. If
you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you may need to
discuss with your physician the additional sodium in
your softened water. Refer to the data table to
determine the hardness in your area of the City.
Because there are so many different types of
treatment systems in the marketplace to choose from,
we encourage you to thoroughly investigate the
performance capabilities of the product before
making a purchase. As with any major household
purchase, you will want to research the reputation and
legitimacy of the company and sales representative
that provides the water treatment product. Once a
system is installed, it is extremely important that
you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, and
service the unit regularly.
While you may appreciate the characteristics of
softened water, it can be devastating to your
landscaping. The high sodium content in the water
can have adverse effects on plant growth, and may
even be toxic to some plants, causing the tips and
edges of the leaves to die. Your drip irrigation or
landscape watering system should be connected
upstream of any water-softening unit.
For information about the water softening process, or
how you can improve the taste of your drinking
water, contact the Water Quality Services staff at
(480) 644-2621. |
