Too often, people believe that if they live in a city, they do not need to invest in a water softener. They believe that the water that comes from the city is safe. These are two separate issues, both of which we will address.
First, understand that city water is generally safe to drink; however, the hardness level may still be high. So do you need a water softener with city water? Yes, depending on the hardness of the city water, this means that you need to invest in a water softener to help remove excess minerals from the city’s water supply to protect your plumbing and appliances.
Learn more about city water below, and make sure you invest in a quality water softener that can help you protect your plumbing and appliances.
Drinking Water From the City Is Safe To Drink
If your water comes from the city, it is safe to drink. Any water that comes from your city should be treated in accordance with US regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That means that the water is safe to drink. You are certainly welcome to apply a water filter to your faucet or refrigerator, but it is not necessarily a requirement. City water should not make you sick.
On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that the city water is soft. There are many people who believe that water coming from a well is hard, while the water coming from the city is soft. That is not universal, and it is still important for people to invest in a test kit that will examine the water’s hardness level for them. You may be surprised at just how hard your city water can be.
Why Is City Water Hard?
Even though city water is treated in accordance with all rules and regulations imposed by the EPA, it can still be relatively hard. Water provided by the city is usually filtered several times to remove any pollutants or contaminants that might be present.
During this filtration process, chlorine and fluoride are often added to the water supply to remove dangerous particles. While these contaminants are removed, it also means that city water contains high levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
Calcium and magnesium are not necessarily harmful to you. In fact, your body requires calcium and magnesium to function properly. On the other hand, calcium and magnesium ions dramatically increase the hardness level of your water.
To remove excess calcium and magnesium from your water supply, you need to invest in a water softener system.
How Do I Know if My Water Is Hard?
How do you know if the water coming from the city is hard? There are a few signs you might notice. They include:
You Have a Film on Your Hands
After you wash your hands, you might notice that they have a strange film on them. That is soap scum, and it happens when your water hardness level is too high. The soap will react with the excess calcium and magnesium in your water supply to form soap scum on your hands and fingers. The mineral buildup can lead to dry skin.
Your Water Pressure Is a Bit Low
You may also feel like the water pressure in your home is too low. Gradually, mineral deposits can form on the inside of your plumbing system. This can reduce the amount of space through which your water can flow, so your water pressure will begin to drop.
For example, you may feel like you have a difficult time turning your shower up to the right pressure. Or, you might notice that it takes you longer to do your dishes because the water pressure is so low. Hard municipal water could even impact washing machines, reducing their efficiency.
You See Spots on Your Plumbing Fixtures
You might also notice that there are some spots forming on the outside of your plumbing fixtures. In particular, you might notice a white scale forming on your shower heads and faucets. This happens when the water evaporates from the exterior of your plumbing fixtures.
When the water evaporates, the calcium and magnesium are left behind. Calcium and magnesium appear white, and that is why you might notice a white scale forming on the exterior of your plumbing fixtures. These stains can be difficult to remove.
You See Spots on Your Dishes
You may also notice some spots on your dishes. After you wash your dishes, you might wait for them to dry. As the water begins to evaporate, the calcium and magnesium will be left behind, and you might notice a white film or scale forming on your dishes. These water spots can be difficult to remove, and you might even notice them when you pull your dishes out of the dishwasher.
Keep in mind that your dishwasher uses the same water supply, so even if you run your dishes through the dishwasher, you will end up with the same problem.
These are a few of the top signs that could indicate that you have hard water running through your house. If you really want to know how hard your water is, you need to invest in a test kit that will give you a precise value. Then, if you notice that your water hardness level is a bit high, how can you deal with the situation?
Water Softeners Can Help You Soften Your City Water
If you want to soften your city water, you need to invest in a water softener. A water softener has been specifically designed to remove excess calcium and magnesium from your water supply. While you might already have a water filter, a water filter is not going to reduce your water hardness level. You need to invest in a water softening system instead.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
A water softener is a system that consists of resin beads situated in a tank that bind to the minerals in your hard water.Â
The resin beads themselves possess sodium ions. During the softening process, the calcium and magnesium ions will be exchanged for sodium or potassium ions. Calcium and magnesium ions have a greater positive charge than that of sodium or potassium ions, and these will be swapped out during the softening process. Most water softeners use sodium, but there are some that use potassium.
After the calcium and magnesium has been removed, the water will be placed back in your plumbing system, this time with sodium or potassium. If your doctor has recommended that you stick to a low sodium diet, you may want to use a potassium water softener instead of sodium.
What Is the Best Water Softener?
If you are looking for the best water softener for city water, invest in the DROP City Smart Water Softener. In addition to softening your water, it removes unwanted chemicals present in most city water supplies, such as chlorine and chloramine. There is a filter inside the tank, so it will go above and beyond to not only reduce your water hardness level but also strip other chemicals or contaminants that could be present in your city’s water.
If you want softened water, DROP water softeners can give you the treated city water you are looking for.
Use a Water Softener To Turn Hard City Water Into Soft Water
If you have city water, it is safe to drink; however, you need to make sure you protect your plumbing system. One of the best ways to do so is to invest in a water softener, such as the one from DROP. Get the right water treatment with the top water softeners available.
