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Water is used around the house daily. Whether it is for drinking, bathing, washing dishes, hand-washing, or cleaning, you will come in contact with tap water many times each day. With something used so frequently, it is important to understand its composition–what exactly is in your water? Water, especially tap water, tends to fall into one of two categories: hard water and soft water. Understanding the difference between hard and soft water largely comes down to the mineral content.
Water hardness is defined as “the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water” (1). Magnesium and calcium are naturally occurring minerals present in nearly all water supplies, and hard water is simply water that contains these minerals. Nearly 85% of homes in the United States have hard water (2).
Despite hard water containing magnesium and calcium, it is not dangerous. These minerals are actually considered alkaline minerals, and consuming them may come with positive health effects.
While hard water can provide your body with certain health benefits due to the presence of minerals, hard water can leave residue that soft water does not. For example, hard water leaves spots on glasses in the dishwasher, and it can leave calcium buildup on sinks and other plumbing fixtures. Despite its health benefits, hard water may lead to extra cleaning due to the minerals it leaves behind.
While hard water occurs in nature, soft water must be treated to achieve its low mineral content. Soft water has a significantly lower mineral content than hard water. Soft water contains less than 17 parts per million of both calcium and magnesium, while hard water ranges from 17 parts per million to over 120 parts per million (2).
There is no clear-cut answer to whether hard water is better than soft water, as it depends on your preferences and goals for the water. For example, while hard water is safe to drink, it can also be a nuisance. When hard water is heated in a water heater, it may leave solid calcium deposits in the heater, ultimately lowering the efficiency of the heater (1). Soft water, on the other hand, has a very low mineral content, and therefore does not leave residue. This helps prevent water heater issues, as well as the need to scrub calcium buildup off of countertops and fixtures.
Additionally, soft water will not leave the same buildup on glasses in the dishwasher. It also will not leave residue on your faucets, coffeepots, or countertops the same way hard water does. Some people prefer soft water simply for the ease of cleaning.
Some people complain that they still feel the soap on their hands after washing their hands, or they feel the shampoo is still in their hair after they rinse it out. This is due to soft water. The minerals in hard water, on the other hand, actually react with the soap, making it feel like you have more effectively scrubbed it off.
Others associate the mineral content of hard water with its taste. Most tap water you drink is hard water, and many people note a “tap water” taste. In this case, they might prefer soft water for its more neutral taste.
Lastly, some people simply want water with as few dissolved substances as possible. Whether the minerals are beneficial or not, some want water to contain nothing butwater. In this case, soft water will be their best bet.
TDS, or total dissolved solids, refers to all solids–including minerals, metals, and salts–that are dissolved in the water. A water’s TDS does not necessarily mean the water is “better” or “worse” than another water source, since the TDS does not specify water solids are dissolved in the water.
For example, alkaline water has a higher TDS than RO water, since alkaline minerals are present in the water. Alkaline minerals, including calcium and magnesium, are healthy nutrients the body needs to survive, and their presence in a water source is a good thing. On the other hand, if tap water has a high TDS due to the presence of heavy metals, then the TDS indicates something potentially harmful.
Because hard water contains healthy minerals, it has a higher TDS than soft water. Soft water’s TDS is extremely low, since minerals are removed to make the water soft.
If you currently have hard water, you can choose to treat the water to soften it. The water softening process does not occur naturally, but you can purchase a water softener. The most common type of water softener is anion exchange softener, which swaps calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions, effectively removing the minerals that cause buildup (3). While these softeners are effective, they tend to be expensive and require a plumber to install.
Another way people soften their water is through a reverse osmosis system. RO systems effectively remove all dissolved solids from a water source, from harmful contaminants to helpful minerals. Therefore, minerals like calcium and magnesium are also removed during the RO filtration process. Seychelle offers an RO system that is compact, easy to set up, and will effectively soften your water–all without the need to hire a plumber.
Most homes in the United States utilize tap water considered “hard water.” Hard water is water that contains calcium and magnesium, two minerals that are found in nature. While hard water is safe to drink, it has a higher TDS than soft water. Soft water is water that has had most of its calcium and magnesium removed. It has a very low TDS. Some people prefer soft water for its taste or because it does not leave a hard-to-clean residue. Others choose soft water for the peace of mind that their water has significantly less contaminants in it.
Is it better to have hard or soft water?
Having hard or soft water is a matter of preference. If you prefer water with a low TDS, then soft water is better. If you prefer water containing healthy minerals, then hard water is better for your specific needs.
Can you brush your teeth with softened water?
Yes. It is safe to brush your teeth with both hard and soft water.
Do water softeners make your water bill go up?
Yes. Water softeners will slightly increase your water bill.
References
United States Geological Survey,https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/hardness-water
Kathleen Zelman,WebMD,https://www.webmd.com/diet/difference-between-hard-soft-water
PennState Extension,https://extension.psu.edu/water-softening
