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![Water Softening Products]() | Water Softening Products
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| ![A Guide to Water Softening]() | A Guide to Water Softening
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| ![A C O N S U M E R S ’ G U I D E T O W A T E R S O F T E N I N G]() | A C O N S U M E R S ’ G U I D E T O W A T E R S O F T E N I N G
The mains water supplied by your water company is required to meet stringent quality regulations to ensure that it is safe for human use. In areas of the country with a hard water supply, consumers may wish to consider the advantages of softening their water. This Guide has been produced to help answer your questions about water softening. Related Fact Sheets are available on the British Water
website.
Water softeners have been available in this country for nearly one hundred years. Although widely used by industry throughout this period, domestic water softeners were for many years considered a luxury. They are now very affordable and their use will provide real savings and benefits. The feeling of washing and bathing in soft, silky, scum-free water is indeed luxurious, and softened water protects the bathroom and sanitaryware from ugly stains and scale associated with hard water. Domestic water softeners play an important role in today’s modern home, along with other traditional ‘white goods’. There is a wide range of domestic water softening equipment from which to choose.
Contents
Water hardness
What are the benefits of softened water?
How is hard water softened in the home?
Softened water around the home
Installation of water softeners
Softened water and health
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| ![WATER HARDNESS]() | WATER HARDNESS
WATER HARDNESS
Q. Why do you get hardwater?
A Hard water is water that contains dissolved chalk, lime and other minerals. Rainwater is naturally soft, but as it percolates through chalk and limestone it dissolves and collects these minerals. Rainwater which falls on hard rock remains naturally soft. The hardness of the supply of mains water to your home is dependent on where you live and the source (river or ground water) of your mains water supply.
Q. What are the effects of hard water?
A Scale, scum and tidemarks around baths and basins. The minerals contained in the hard water settle out as an unsightly deposit of hardness scale whenever the water is heated, or when cold standing water evaporates. Examples of this are:
- Unsightly white marks, stains and scale on sinks, baths, toilet bowls and around the base of taps; blocked shower heads
- Clogging of pipework and premature failure of water heaters and white goods Water hardness also makes it difficult to get a good lather, so more soap is required for washing. Even after washing, clothes can be left grey and dingy, and dishes and glasses dull or smeared.
Q How can I find out if my water is hard?
A Generally speaking, hard water is supplied to 60% of homes in the UK: especially in central, eastern and southern areas of England. Some English cities are supplied with naturally soft water from Wales and the Lake District. Water quality information, including hardness levels, for individual supplies is available from your water supply company.
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