What is hard water and what can I do about it?

Hard water is simply water that contains two harmless minerals - calcium and magnesium. Water is considered "hard" if it measures more than 120 parts per million or 7.0 grains per gallon.

Although hardness does not affect the safety of the water, some customers may find it to be inconvenient. The minerals may make the water hard to develop a sudsy lather. Hardness minerals may also contribute to scaling in teapots, spots on dishes and residues on plumbing fixtures and glass shower doors.

To find out the most recent hardness number, read the District’s annual consumer confidence/water quality report. 

Show All Answers

1. Why does my water have an unpleasant taste and/or odor?
2. Why do I sometimes get cloudy water coming out of my faucets?
3. What is hard water and what can I do about it?
4. We recently purchased a new dishwasher. In order to establish the correct settings, the dishwasher requires us to program the level of hardness/softness of the water. What is the water hardness?
5. My showerhead and shower doors have a white film on them. What causes it and what should I do about it?
6. What is the level of fluoride in the water?
7. Why does my water look dirty, have sediment and/or particles in it?
8. My showerhead and shower doors have a white film on them. What causes it and what should I do about it?
9. We recently purchased a new dishwasher. In order to establish the correct settings, the dishwasher requires us to program the level of hardness/softness of the water. What is the water hardness in the
10. What is hard water and what can I do about it?
11. What is Trichloropropane (TCP)?
12. How much Trichloropropane (TCP) is in my water?
13. Where did the Trichloropropane (TCP) come from and how long has it been there?
14. Why wasn’t the Trichloropropane (TCP) discovered earlier?
15. Are there any health effects to drinking water with Trichloropropane (TCP)?