How Hard Water Affects Your Family's Skin and Hair
While hard water is not a direct health hazard, it does create daily quality-of-life issues. The minerals in the water react with soap to form a residue, rather than a clean lather. This leads to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema conditions.
- Dull, brittle hair that is difficult to manage.
- A constant film of soap scum on shower doors, tubs, and sinks.
For families with infants, preparing baby formula with hard water can be a concern due to the high mineral content, and the water can be harsh on a baby's sensitive skin during bath time.
Filtration Guide for Wheat Ridge's Hard Water
With a hardness level of 8.0 GPG, you have several effective options. A salt-free water conditioner is often sufficient to prevent scale buildup without the use of sodium, making it a popular, low-maintenance choice. For drinking water, a quality pitcher filter or under-sink system will improve taste.
A traditional whole-house water softener is also an option. A typical system (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in about 17.4 years through annual savings of $86 on energy, detergents, and prolonged appliance life. For families who purchase bottled water, installing an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system can eliminate the average $600-900 annual spend, offering a much faster return on investment.