What is the difference between hard water and soft water?

What is the difference between hard water and soft water

Are You Knowledgeable about the Water You Drink?

Water is a vital element that is needed by all living things. It is a natural gift from Mother Nature to nurture her children. As you can see, water can be found anywhere, may it be at the earth's surface or even within the earth’s soil.

But nowadays, we also have bottled water. There are different kinds of bottled water. These waters are made to be alkaline, contain minerals, have different flavors, and are even made to be carbonated to give the effervescent taste of spring water. But little do we know that there also is water classified as hard water and soft water.

Different Kinds of Water

Did you know that there are two types of water? Water is classified as hard water and soft water. Hard water has detectable amounts of naturally present minerals in water, and these are calcium and magnesium.

Hard water is the preferred drinking water since it contains essential minerals beneficial to health and has a natural water flavor. Hard water is usually termed as groundwater; such water is found in deep wells.

Soft water, on the other hand, is treated wherein the only compound left is sodium ion. Rainwater is naturally considered to be one of nature’s soft water. However, when rainwater falls to the ground and seeps its way through the water supply, it picks up minerals naturally found in the soil, such minerals are calcium and magnesium.

Though hard water is the best drinking water because minerals are naturally present in it, it still isn’t potable to be consumed because aside from the minerals found in hard water, it is also abundant with pathogens that can cause diseases.

Since hard water is rich in harmful pathogens, it is highly recommended that soft water be used as drinking water. Soft water is the safe water consumed because soft water is treated from chemicals and microorganisms that cause certain illnesses.

Differentiating Water with the Naked Eye

Hard water and soft water can be easily distinguished. The advantage of hard water is it is rich in minerals. But then again, hard water gives you a lot of dilemmas. Giving you a few examples:

What is the difference between hard water and soft water?
Soap is less effective, and the lather is no that bubbly
Hair feels sticky and looks dull
Leaves residue and spots on the dishes
Dingy looking for clothes after washing
Soap scum and film on bathtubs

If consumed, hard water can be the cause of abdominal disturbances such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps due to that harmful pathogen it possesses

In using soft water, however, tasks can be easily performed. The advantages of using soft water are:

Soap lather is better and bubbly
Cleans dishes without leaving any residue
Glasses sparkles
Hair becomes healthier
Scum-free shower curtains and bathtubs
Skin and clothing are softer
Prolong machine life such as dishwater, heater and washing machine
Potable enough to drink without pathogens and chemicals

Though soft water has a lot of advantages and benefits, it also has a downside. Soft water is not recommended to be consumed by individuals who have heart or circulatory problems or on a low sodium diet.

Since soft water undergoes certain processes wherein minerals are removed, and sodium ions are left and only enriched, the susceptible individuals are at higher risk.

The solution to the Dilemma

Though hard water is the best water to drink due to its minerals, it is not safe from pathogens. Since soft water is the cleanest and more beneficial than hard water, it is still not advisable for individuals who have certain ailments.

The good news is, there is a way to combat these disadvantages. Presently, there are different processes to remove sodium from soft water and filter pathogens out of hard water.

With technology that continually evolves, there is a solution to have safe and potable drinking water. These processes are reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization.

Making Water Safe and Potable

In the present time, there are different ways to ensure that water is safe from drinking. These processes include reverse osmosis, where water is filtered with a set pressure, and a solution is added to remove particles and disease-causing microorganisms.

Water distillation is a method wherein water is purified by sequential evaporation and condensation. Condensation is a procedure in which gas cools and turns into water, just like how rainwater is made.

There is also a process in which ion is removed from the water, which is called deionization. Rest assured, these processes are safe for you and your family but are they beneficial enough?

The Best of Both Worlds

These processes are indeed just certain ways to remove particulates and minerals from the water.

But the big question that is lurking behind is, “Is it beneficial to you and your family?” True as it can be, these processes do remove pathogens that can cause illnesses, but it also removes essential minerals naturally found in water.

Though the water can be potable as this technique can produce, we still need minerals to aid us in our daily lives. So how can you purify water without removing the essential minerals?

What is the difference between hard water and soft water?

Well, good news. You can have the most potable and healthiest water that you can drink in the comfort of your home.

Berkey can ensure you that your water is free from sediments and chemicals that are toxic to your health while maintaining the vitality of the naturally present minerals in the water.

With the use of Big Berkey Water Filter, both hard water and soft water are purified to their purest state, ensuring that your family’s health is in good hands.



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