Water Hardness

Does WaterOne soften its water?
Yes. WaterOne softens its water using lime and sometimes soda ash to reduce the mineral content related to hardness. A certain amount of hardness is required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Lead and Copper Rule, which is meant to help protect consumers from exposure to lead from their home plumbing systems.  The water must be slightly depositing to lay down a thin layer of calcium on the pipes.  If the water is too soft it can corrode or break down the pipes and fixtures and release lead and copper from interior plumbing and fixtures, which is not good.

Is this safe for my family to drink?
Water hardness, as generally defined by calcium & magnesium content, is considered an aesthetic issue with no associated adverse health effects; which is why the EPA & State recommendations, directly concerning this issue, are focused on minimizing build up. WaterOne partially softens the water it provides to consumers with the goal of having on average 120-140 mg/L (or parts per million) total hardness, or approximately 7 – 8 grains per gallon. Although WaterOne’s final water is significantly less than the hardness of the raw river water, which often exceeds 250 mg/l, (which is considered very hard), WaterOne water is still classified as hard water.

What are some considerations in having water softeners installed?
Some people enjoy the benefits of water softeners which include needing less amounts of soap and detergents to clean; and a reduction of spotting, scaling and staining. They can also leave your skin feeling softer and less dry.

However, if purchasing a water softener, it is important to understand their potential to become aggressive at leaching metals from water lines into a home’s drinking water. Most vulnerable are lead and copper from soldered joints, pipes, and faucets.  Because of the leaching, the initial drawing of cold water will have a higher lead content than normal.  Also, warm or hot water that has been softened should never be used for cooking or drinking water as it will contain a significantly higher amount of heavy metals.

Can the temperature setting on my hot water tank aggravate hard water problems?
Yes, in most, if not all cases where calcium buildup occurs in plumbing systems, investigations show that the hot water tank is set at a higher than “normal” setting. High efficiency devices such as tankless hot water heaters and re-circulating hot water systems can cause excessive buildup on plumbing systems.

What are some issues WaterOne sees in customers’ homes related to water softeners?
Some of the water quality calls WaterOne investigates are related to water softeners. The problems WaterOne sees in customers’ homes related to water softeners include:

• Stripping of calcium carbonate layer already formed on piping. 
• Premature loss of hot water tank anode. 
• Appearance of rusty hot water due to factory galvanized fittings in the tank inlet, outlet and T&P connections. 
• Removal of zinc lining in galvanized fittings or piping leaving the iron exposed to the corrosive effect of the softened water.
• Plugging of brine rinse drain caused by sediment backup into fixtures.
• Unsafe elevation of chloride levels in water.
• Appearance of resin beads plugging fixture aerators when resin bags fail.
• Shortened functional life of galvanized piping and iron based plumbing materials.
•  “Slick” feeling to softened water which is actually a chloride film.  The softer the water, the slicker the feeling.

Are there any other bad effects of using a water softener?
Yes. A water softener can increase your intake of sodium.  Unfortunately, water softeners are a major contributor to sodium levels. Softeners turn calcium and magnesium "hardness" to "soft salts" such as sodium.  Those on low sodium diets should be aware of this. Consuming water with high sodium content can also lead to dehydration.

Is it safe to use a water softener with a whole house carbon filter?
No.  In fact, these two should never be combined. Removal of chlorine disinfectant from the home plumbing by carbon filtration can result in extraordinary amounts of bacteria growing in the house waterlines.