Drilling a well in your property is a good way to get a reliable source of water for your domestic needs. However, one of the problems that most people in this position encounter is finding that they have to make an extra effort to make sure that the water is suitable for human consumption. Understanding the science behind this is important, so that you can then make the right decisions regarding how to go about it. One of the problems you might have to contend with is that most of the time, the water retrieved from a well or borehole will be hard.
What is hard water?
Hard water is that which contains a large concentration of minerals. When you get water from a well, chances are that it has seeped through a lot of rock. In the process, it might have picked up a large quantity of minerals in the form of salts. Using this type of water has some health benefits depending on the concentration of the minerals in it, but it is also associated with a few disadvantages as well. This is why it’s important to consider softening it.
What are the disadvantages of hard water?
Some of the common problems associated with hard water include:
• Residue deposition: Hard water has a tendency to leave deposits in most of the containers it comes into contact with. This is a function of the concentration of minerals in it; the higher the concentration, the higher the chances of the staining occurring. Some of the ways in which this staining can be noticed including finding that your kettle has some deposit in it. In severe cases, the stains may accumulate in your piping, leading to clogging in the long term. This deposition is usually a consequence of the minerals crystallizing out of the water.
• Doing laundry using hard water also has the potential to make it look dull. This happens even if you use detergents that are designed to retain the colors in the clothing. After washing, you may also notice that the clothes become very stiff, and may even be uncomfortable to wear.
• Hard water has the potential to increase your energy costs. The formation of a lime scale in your boiler could act as a form of insulation, reducing the transmission of energy from the heater to the water.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should actively try to get rid of the minerals in hard water. One of the most effective ways of going about this is by investing in a high quality filter system. There are some that will only get rid of particulate matter in the water, but better ones can also reduce the concentration of minerals in the water as well. Spending just a little more on such filtration systems will result in a better outcome since you will not have to deal with any of the problems mentioned above. Of course, it would be important to put the filtration system between the well and the home’s plumbing for maximum effect.