What Are the Causes of Hard & Soft Water?

It's all about the minerals. Whether or not you receive hard or soft water from your shower head, kitchen faucet or garden hose all depends on the minerals present. Knowing which minerals cause which type of water can help you identify not only the type of water you have, but also the type of land around you.

Definition

• Michael Robison, writer for Natural Health Techniques, describes hard water as water with large amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium. He says soft water contains only small amounts of these minerals. When more dissolved calcium and magnesium is present in water, more detergent or soap is required to get things clean, according to Robison. He says when it comes to washing cars and streets or irrigating crops, hard water isn't really a concern. It becomes more troublesome, however, with regard to bathing or washing dishes or clothes.

Causes of Hard Water

• According to the Women's Health Care Topics website, the degree of hardness in water is measured in parts per million of calcium. The website explains that hard water contains 160 to 320 parts per million, while very hard water has 460 or above. Women's Health Care Topics states that calcium in water is usually caused by the amount of limestone in the Earth's surface. Free Drinking Water's website states that when rainwater falls and penetrates into the soil, it picks up calcium and magnesium before it making its way into our homes, thus causing hard water.

Causes of Soft Water

• Women's Health Care Topics states that soft water contains less than 160 parts per million of calcium. Free Drinking Water's website states that rainwater is naturally soft, so the hardening process happens when rainwater seeps through the ground. Soft water is ideal for washing clothes and dishes and can be less harsh to water-consuming household appliances. If you're stuck with hard water, however, Robison states that you can use an ion exchange water conditioner to soften it. He further claims that any expenses associated with buying a water conditioner are more than covered by the money saved through energy conservation.