Can You Drink Hard Water?
Have you noticed chalky limescale in your kettle? Or does your soap not lather as well as it should? That’s because you have hard water, but is it affecting your health?
Some people think nothing of drinking hard water, while others go to great lengths to soften it.
With so many myths floating around, it’s easy to wonder if hard water is damaging your health, drying out your skin, or even affecting your appliances.
Here, we explain everything, from what hard water is to whether it’s good or bad for you and what you can do about it.
What is hard water?
Hard water is simply water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is determined by rainwater that travels through soil and rock, picking up these minerals as it moves.
What is soft water?
Soft water, on the other hand, has low amounts of calcium and magnesium. This is because the water is travelling over hard rocks, which prevents the absorption of additional minerals.
Is it safe to drink hard water?
Drinking hard water is generally safe, and some research suggests that the minerals it contains could potentially offer health benefits.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) says that hard water doesn’t pose a health risk.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that drinking hard water can help us get our daily mineral intake. Research has also shown that in areas with hard water, there are lower incidences of heart disease.
Are there any risks to hard water?
While there are some potential benefits to drinking hard water, there are some downsides.
Skin and hair
The minerals in hard water can impact your soaps and shampoos, which leaves a residue that can clog pores and cause dryness. This directly affects skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
Furthermore, hard water can leave hair feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. A study published in the International Journal of Trichology found that, over time, hard water can decrease hair thickness and cause a ruffled appearance.
Household impacts
Not only can hard water impact personal care, but over time it can also affect your household systems.
Appliance efficiency: Mineral deposits from hard water can accumulate in appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, reducing their efficiency. They also often need replacing more regularly.
Plumbing issues: A buildup of limescale might lead to clogged pipes and a reduced water flow.
How to tell if water is hard
Are you wondering if your tap water is hard? Here are some telltale signs:
- Soap scum: If you find it difficult to lather soap or you find white residue on your taps or dishes, it’s likely to be limescale.
- Limescale buildup: Chalky deposits on your kettles, showerheads and pipes.
- Dry skin and hair: If you notice that your skin feels dry or irritated after you’ve been in the shower or bath, it could be due to hard water.
If you’d like to find out just how hard the water is in your area, you can contact your local water supplier or use a water hardness test kit.
Is my tap water safe to drink?
Tap water in the UK has to meet stringent quality standards to ensure that it’s safe for consumption. Therefore, yes, even hard tap water is safe to drink. It just might not look particularly pleasant, or you may even be able to taste the minerals within, but it’s perfectly safe to drink.
Does hard water have any benefits?
While hard water is linked to household inconveniences like limescale buildup, studies suggest its mineral content could offer health benefits.
Essential mineral intake
Hard water contains higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium. These are two essential minerals that play key roles in how our body functions:
- Calcium: Crucial for bone health, muscle function, nerve signalling, and blood clotting. Drinking hard water can boost your calcium intake, which in turn supports bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
- Magnesium: This mineral is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, including energy production, muscle and nerve function, and blood pressure regulation. Hard water can contribute to your daily magnesium intake, aiding your cardiovascular health and preventing deficiencies.
Cardiovascular health
Studies have shown that higher levels of magnesium in drinking water could be linked to lower incidences of heart disease. This is because magnesium helps regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Digestive health
Magnesium salts, which are found in hard water, can have a mild laxative effect. This is good for helping to relieve constipation, as well as promoting regular bowel movements.
Cancer risk reduction
Research has shown that the minerals found in hard water may help to reduce the risk of gastric, colon, rectal, and pancreatic cancers. However, further studies are needed to give a definitive answer.
How to soften water at home
Can you soften water at home? Yes, thankfully there are a number of ways you can help to soften water at home, from simple household remedies to installing specialised equipment.
Ion-exchange water softeners
Ion-exchange water softeners are best used when the whole-house water needs softening. They work by replacing the hard minerals with sodium or potassium ions, which reduces hardness.
The great thing about this is that it helps provide a consistent supply of softened water throughout the home, using resin beads to catch the hard minerals.
Reverse osmosis systems
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems not only work to remove hardness minerals from the water, but a range of impurities. They’re highly effective but are installed at specific points of use, such as under the kitchen sink. They do, however, require regular maintenance and can only output so much ‘clean’ water at a time.
Boiling water
Boiling water is a simple method to reduce hardness in the water. The heating action precipitates the calcium, which can then be strained out. While it’s certainly effective, it’s only really practical for small amounts of water, like cooking or drinking.
Soften water in your washing
Soften the water in your washing machine by adding washing soda (sodium carbonate) to your laundry. This is a great way to ensure that your detergent is working properly and helps to prevent soap scum too.
Vinegar rinses
Vinegar makes a great natural remedy for removing limescale buildup on taps, showerheads, kettles, and other appliances. The acidity dissolves the mineral deposits, and through regular cleaning, you can keep on top of the visible effects of hard water.
Showerhead filters
Installing showerhead filters can reduce the impact of hard water on your skin and hair. These filters can help remove chlorine and some minerals, resulting in softer water in your shower. This is ideal for those with sensitive skin issues or who are experiencing the effects of hard water on their hair.
Magnetic or electronic descalers
Some devices claim to soften hard water by passing it through a magnetic or electronic field. However, their effectiveness is debated, and there is little scientific evidence to support their claims.
Water hardness across the country
Water hardness varies across regions. In the UK, areas like the South East have harder water because of the chalk and limestone there.
Knowing the hardness of your local water supply can help you manage household appliances and address issues like limescale buildup before they become major problems.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate determines water harness in milligrams per litre (mg/L) of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as follows:
- Soft: 0-100 mg/L
- Slightly Hard: 100-150 mg/L
- Moderately Hard: 150-200 mg/L
- Hard: 200-300 mg/L
- Very Hard: Over 300 mg/L
Regional variations in water hardness
- South and East of England: These areas, including cities like Bath, Bristol, and Swindon, are known for their very hard water. Swindon is reported to have water levels of around 349 mg/L CaCO₃.
- Midlands: The East and West Midlands regions experience moderately hard water, with levels that typically range from 151 to 275 mg/L CaCO₃.
- North West England and Western Scotland: Areas like Cumbria and the western parts of Scotland generally have soft water with hardness levels between 0 and 100 mg/L CaCO₃.
- London: The capital mostly experiences hard water with levels often over 200 mg/L CaCO₃.
Finding out your water hardness
Knowing how hard the water is in your specific area ensures that you can take the necessary precautions. To find out the hardness of your supply, you can:
- Contact your water supplier: Most supplies will provide detailed water quality reports that are specific to your area.
- Use online resources: Interactive maps and postcode search tools can tell you how hard the water is in your postcode.
Even though tap water has been cleared to drink across the whole of the UK, whether you’re in a hard or a soft water area, sometimes it’s just hard to get past the taste. That’s where Drop Water Coolers come in; with us you can drink fresh, delicious water all day with our handy water coolers that can be installed almost anywhere. Get in touch today and ensure that your water is always cold and always filtered with our products.
