If you’ve noticed cloudy streaks on your appliances or found chalky mineral build-up that can’t be wiped away on your faucets and fixtures, hard water may be to blame. Hard water can have serious impacts on residential and commercial plumbing systems, and it affects property owners throughout much of central Florida to varying degrees.
The Leading Causes of Hard Water
Hard water occurs when high levels of calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron and other trace minerals become dissolved in water as it travels through subsurface soil and bedrock. Limestone is particularly rich in these minerals and is a top culprit behind hard water around the United States.
Hard Water and the Local Water Supply
Water that falls as precipitation filters down through topsoil, subsurface soil and weathered rock until its progress is blocked by an impenetrable bedrock layer. This confining layer creates an underground aquifer by preventing water from filtering further into the ground. Large aquifer systems can contain millions of gallons of water and are often used as drinking water sources for cities and counties. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the main sources of water relied on by municipalities in central Florida. The Floridan Aquifer features a limestone bedrock base that’s the source of the calcium, magnesium and other trace elements that are responsible for the hard water property owners in and around Orlando find themselves dealing with on a daily basis.
Measuring Water Hardness
Despite high percentages of dissolved minerals, it’s nearly impossible to identify hard water by visual inspection because it looks no different than any other treated tap water when used to fill a sink, tub or drinking glass. The presence and concentration of hardness-causing minerals can only be determined by laboratory testing that’s capable of detecting calcium, magnesium and manganese down to the parts-per-million level. Water that exhibits mineral concentrations exceeding 120 ppm is considered hard. Water hardness concentrations in Florida vary from 60 ppm to more than 200 ppm.
Issues Caused by Hard Water
The most serious problems resulting from hard water occur when calcium and magnesium settle out and are deposited on pipes, fixtures and appliances. These minerals can create an unsightly filmy appearance that discolors faucets, sinks, tubs, shower doors and anything else they come in contact with. The deposits can’t be easily washed away or wiped off but must be removed by specially formulated cleaning products designed to dissolve hard water build-up. If the mineral concentrations are extremely high, calcium and magnesium may accumulate inside pipes or appliances to the point that the flow path becomes partially or completely blocked. This can lead to low water pressure, water leaks, sewage back-ups and difficult-to-repair plumbing damage. Hard water minerals also reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents and may leave residue on dishes, clothing and other items. The texture and appearance of hair and skin washed in hard water can also be negatively impacted.
Despite all the problems attributed to hard water minerals, these naturally occurring substances have no known negative effects on the quality or safety of the water supply. Small amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium may even improve the flavor and freshness of tap or well water although very high concentrations can impart a harsh or chemical taste. Hardness-causing minerals have also not been shown to have a detrimental impact on the health and well-being of people or animals who consume them.
Is Hard Water a Problem at Your Home or Business?
While most substances that find their way into the groundwater supply are easily removed during the water filtration and treatment process, hardness-causing minerals are too small to be addressed by normal water treatment methods. These substances require specialized attention to eliminate them from the water supply. Water softeners are designed to provide an extra polishing step at the point where the water supply enters a home or business by utilizing a chemical reaction called ion exchange to trap the minerals. In the absence of a water softener system, periodic descaling of pipes and appliances can also head off many of the unpleasant issues caused by hard water.
If hard water has been wreaking havoc with your residential or commercial plumbing system in the greater Orlando area, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to request an appointment with a member of our team today. We’ll schedule a time to consult with you about your hard water treatment options at your convenience.