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.stating 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.