What is the Water Hardness Rating in YOUR Neighbourhood?

 

Here is a link to maps showing the water hardness levels in Kitchener - Waterloo and Guelph.

Click ths link for the maps: http://watersoftenerfacts.ca/my-water-hardness

Several municipalities in the Grand River Watershed rely on groundwater for their drinking water supply. The Region of Waterloo takes roughly 75 percent of its water from the ground and The City of Guelph takes 100 percent of its water from the ground.

Groundwater is generally hard because it has absorbed minerals from the earth it flows through. The minerals contributing to “hardness” (mainly calcium and magnesium) are healthy to drink, but do contribute to scale build-up in pipes, appliances, water heaters, and dishes. As a result, residents of areas with hard water can use water softeners to remove the hardness of water to reduce scale build-up, keep water heaters running efficiently, and make the water more pleasing for washing.

You should always find out the hardness level of your water before installing (and setting up) a water softener. For residents of Guelph and Waterloo Region, this site features a hardness guide to tell you the hardness of your water by specific area of your community.

Water is considered hard when it contains large amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium and other minerals. These minerals cause film formation on glasses and residue on bathroom fixtures. Hard water can cause mineral build-up in pipes and appliances and reduce the efficiency of heating elements in water heaters. Many people find this reduces the lather of soap and shampoo during showers and it can make laundry stiffer and less vibrant.

Water hardness is measured in mg/litre (also referred to as parts per million or ppm) or grains per U.S. gallon (gpg) in a range of five classifications:

 

 

Soft

below 17 mg/litre

(0-1 grains per U.S. gallon)

 

Slightly hard

17.1 – 60 mg/litre

(1-3.5 gpg)

 

Moderately hard

61 – 120 mg/litre

(3.5 – 7.0 gpg)

 

Hard

121 – 180 mg/litre

(7.0 – 10.5 gpg)

 

Very hard

over 180 mg/litre

(10.5 gpg and over)

Water hardness levels in Waterloo Region and City of Guelph vary from 148 mg/litre (8.7 grains per U.S. gallon) to 958 mg/litre (56 grains per gallon).

There are a few telltale signs that your tap water is hard. Tap water that contains a higher concentration of minerals will leave soap scum behind on sinks and bath tubs. Minerals in the water form scale in washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers, humidifiers, water heaters and plumbing fixtures. Without proper maintenance, the efficiency of appliances, such as tanked water heaters, will decrease over time due to mineral or scale accumulation. With this in mind, homeowners renting appliances are often required to maintain their water softeners as part rental agreements.

The main reasons to purchase a water softener are:

• Lowering energy consumption by reducing scale build-up in water heaters
• Reducing amounts of soap needed to create lathering
• Maintaining plumbing fixture appearance and function
• Enjoying the feel of softened water when washing

For more information on Water Softeners, check out www.watersoftenerfacts.ca