How Hard Water Affects Your Family
While municipally treated water in Bolingbrook is safe to drink, its hardness has noticeable effects on skin and hair. The high mineral content prevents soap from lathering effectively, leaving behind a residue that can:
- Cause dry, itchy skin and exacerbate conditions like eczema.
- Leave hair feeling brittle, dull, and difficult to manage.
- Prevent soap from rinsing clean, leading to soap scum on shower doors and skin irritation.
For families with infants, preparing formula with very hard water can concentrate minerals, a factor some parents prefer to manage with filtered water.
Filtration Guide for Very Hard Water (17.6 GPG)
At 17.6 GPG, pitcher filters or faucet mounts are inadequate; they cannot handle this level of hardness and offer no protection for your plumbing. The right solution is a whole-house system.
- Best Option: A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the most effective solution. It removes the hardness minerals entirely, protecting your entire plumbing system. For the purest drinking water, pair it with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner can be an option for those who want to prevent scale buildup without using salt. It doesn't remove minerals but changes their structure to prevent them from sticking to surfaces.
The Payback Calculation: A whole-house softener (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in 7.9 years through verified savings of $189 per year on energy bills, reduced detergent use, and avoiding premature appliance replacements. This doesn't even count the $600-$900 many families spend on bottled water annually, which an RO system eliminates.