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Hard Water Vs. Soft Water

Before we begin, all the experts agree that both hard or soft water are totally safe to drink. Neither will hurt us!

So, what is Hard or Soft Water? Here is my simple explanation: Soft water doesn’t contain minerals and hard water does! Soft water is pure H2O (two-parts hydrogen and one-part oxygen), such as is found in rain. Hard water contains various levels of dissolved minerals, especially calcium, magnesium (and others) that are picked up from the soil as the rain water seeps through the ground into aquafers and underground water ways. FYI – The vast majority of water for personal use across the country is pulled from ground sources.
Soft water can have a bad taste with an almost salty flavor but helps when you are cleaning glass, it requires less laundry detergent, reduces soap scum and scale buildup, and keeps clothes feeling softer through the laundering process!
Hard water is much tougher on appliances and the inside of your household plumbing due to a build-up of scale and scum from the minerals, but the minerals contained in hard water are what our bodies need and they make the water taste better!

Here’s a great 4-minute video narrated by Dr. Sapna Parikh and put out by the Discovery Channel explaining the difference between Hard and Soft Water:                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bqc5kBKed4

For those interested in more information on hard and soft water I’ve reviewed these web sites and attached what I think is helpful insight. Read on ….

 
Copied from: https://sciencing.com/difference-between-hard-soft-water-6465993.html

Most people think water is water. However, water falls into two categories: hard and soft. The difference between hard and soft water has nothing to do with how the water feels. The difference is related to the mineral content of the water.

Hard Water:
The bulk of the water supply in the United States is hard water. This is because it is from ground water. Ground water is rainwater that has fallen and seeped into the ground until it reaches an aquifer, where it becomes part of a water source for a well or a spring.
As the water seeps through the ground, it is naturally purified and picks up minerals from the rocks it seeps through. Typical minerals are sulfur, lime, magnesium and calcium. After it soaks up enough of these minerals to have a concentration of at least one grain per gallon, or GPG, the water is said to be hard.

Soft Water:
Soft water, on the other hand, has very little of these minerals in it–less than one GPG. Most surface water, such as that in lakes, rivers or collected rainwater, is soft.
Water softeners can be used to remove the calcium and magnesium from hard water by using sodium.

Hard Water Features
There are pros and cons to both hard and soft water. Hard water typically tastes better because of the of minerals in it. That is why spring water and mineral water are bottled and touted as tasting good. Hard water is also shown to be beneficial for your health, because it is a good source of the magnesium and calcium your body needs. A report from Oak Ridge National Laboratory on rates of heart attack and stroke among 1,400 Wisconsin farmers found that farmers who drank hard well water experienced lower rates of these illnesses than those who drank soft water.
However, hard water leaves deposits, or scale, that can corrode pipes over time and can prevent washing machines, water heaters and boilers from working efficiently. This scale damage shortens appliance life and affects the heat conductivity in water heaters and boilers. Hard water minerals leave stains and water spots on sinks, tubs, dishes and glassware, and they promote fabric deterioration in clothes.

Soft Water Features
Soft water is better for your skin, because it contains no irritating minerals and doesn’t leave a film that dries skin. Soft water promotes …

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