Hard water
contains trace amounts of the minerals calcium and magnesium.
Pennsylvania typically has a moderate to high level of water hardness. According to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website, millions of rural and suburban Pennsylvania residents rely on private wells for their drinking water, and new wells are added at a rate of 20,000 a year. Unfortunately, many wells are at risk for contamination, causing the water to contain higher levels of calcium and magnesium, as well as contaminants such as E. coli.
Definition
Water is considered hard or soft based upon the number of calcium and magnesium carbonates that occur in a given sample. While generally not considered hazardous to health, hard water can interfere with most cleaning tasks, including laundering, dishwashing, personal grooming and bathing. Bathtubs, sinks, faucets and shower doors generally develop a film or residue if the water quality is hard, and hair may begin to feel sticky after bathing. According to the Water Research website, the hardness of water is gauged using three different measurements: grains per gallon, milligrams per liter and parts per million.
Water Hardness in Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Water Department website records the water of Philadelphia and the surrounding area as moderately hard. Rural areas can vary widely depending on weather, geography and other natural conditions. Tap water samples taken from Philadelphia and other counties in Pennsylvania recorded steady hardness levels of 100 to 150 parts-per-million, or 6 to 9 grains per gallon.
Studies
According to studies published by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website, 41 percent of the samples taken from private wells in rural and suburban Pennsylvania failed at least one safe drinking water standard. In addition to water hardness, lead and nitrate contamination was found to be prevalent, although the prevalence of both chemicals had declined from previous studies. Of the 28 different variables found to impact water safety were bedrock geology, soil moisture conditions, inadequate well construction and lead plumbing components.
Safety Concerns
Contact your local county authorities if you experience regular indicators of hard water and are concerned about the safety of your drinking water. Water softeners and other filters may be effective at reducing the amount of calcium and magnesium in your tap water. Since both calcium and magnesium are considered essential minerals for nutritional health, hard water should not pose any health risks on its own.
Tags: calcium magnesium, drinking water, hard water, Center Rural, Center Rural Pennsylvania
