Impact on Skin and Hair
While hard water is safe to drink, it creates quality-of-life issues. The minerals prevent soap from lathering and rinsing completely, leaving a residue on your skin and hair. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema
- Dull, brittle, and difficult-to-manage hair
- Soap scum buildup on showers and tubs
For families, preparing baby formula with hard water can be a concern, as the excess minerals may alter the nutritional balance.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for 8.0 GPG Water
For hard water at 8.0 GPG, a salt-free water conditioner is often the most practical choice. It prevents scale from forming without the need for salt or wastewater discharge. For better-tasting drinking water, supplement this with a quality pitcher filter or an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system.
While a whole-house water softener is an option, the economics are a consideration. A typical system (~$1,500 installed) would save a Greeley homeowner about $86 per year in energy and appliance costs, resulting in a payback period of 17.4 years. An under-sink RO system, however, can immediately replace the apx. $600-900 per year many families spend on bottled water.