Water Hardness

Hardness is most commonly measured by titration with an EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate) solution. The EDTA reacts with the magnesium and calcium ions.

The main issue associated with the water hardness in residential use is the potential for precipitates to form, in particular when heated, in a water heater for instance. The phrase “temporary hardness” is sometimes used to describe this effect of calcium and magnesium salts precipitating out when heated.

Historically, water hardness described the capacity for water to react with a soap; hard water requires considerably more soap to produce a lather. This occurs because the sodium/potassium soap is converted into an insoluble non-detergent. This soap scum is the reaction of calcium with the soap; spotting on dishes from a dishwasher is another hard water residue.

As to consumption, both calcium and magnesium are essential minerals, beneficial to human health in several respects. While the primary human source is food, water can make significant contributions to the total intake of these nutrients for some populations and subgroups.

Dissolved minerals contribute to the taste of drinking water to varying degrees. The acceptability of a given level of minerals will usually depend on the individual’s familiarity and taste.

Corrosion and scaling are functions of hardness, pH and alkalinity. Hard water forms deposits that clog plumbing. These deposits, called scale, are composed mainly of calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and calcium sulfate. Calcium and magnesium carbonates tend to deposit in boilers and heat exchangers.

Excessively hard water can also have corrosion tendencies. However, soft water that is not stabilized has a greater tendency to cause corrosion of metal surfaces and pipes, which also introduces metals such as copper, lead, zinc and cadmium into drinking water.

There is a significant difference between naturally soft water and water that has been softened by cation exchange, where the calcium and magnesium have been displaced by sodium. The naturally soft water will be more corrosive and require stabilization. This typically involves increasing the alkalinity and/or adding corrosion-inhibiting substances such as phosphates. Rainwater is typically soft; it would be unusual for groundwater to have issues with softness. As to EPA regulations on hardness, it is not directly regulated, but can be indirectly regulated by standards for total dissolved solids in the Secondary Drinking Water Standards.

Water hardness treatment and water softening are typically unnecessary, as hard water is not a health hazard (it can in fact be considered a dietary supplement for calcium and magnesium), and most detergents contain ingredients that counteract the effects of hard water. Water hardness removal may be recommended for the water going to the hot water system. For these reasons, while public water systems try to avoid using very hard waters, they typically do not soften water.