How Hard Water Affects Your Family's Skin and Hair
While Kokomo's municipal water is safe to drink, its hardness impacts daily life. The high mineral content prevents soap and shampoo from lathering properly, leaving a residue on your skin and hair. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema conditions.
- Dull, brittle hair and an irritated scalp.
- Soap scum rings in bathtubs and showers.
For families with infants, preparing baby formula with very hard water can be a concern due to the high mineral concentration, although it is not considered a direct health hazard.
Filtration Guide for Very Hard Water (17 GPG)
With water hardness at 17 GPG, simple pitcher filters or faucet attachments are insufficient. To protect your entire home, a comprehensive solution is necessary.
- Primary Recommendation: A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the most effective solution. It removes the hardness minerals entirely, protecting your pipes, appliances, and skin.
- For Drinking Water: Pair the softener with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. This removes salts and other impurities for perfectly pure drinking water, eliminating the need for bottled water (which costs an average family $600-900 per year).
The Payback Calculation: A whole-house softener (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in approximately 8.3 years through savings of $180/year on energy, detergent, and premature appliance replacement costs.