Impact on Skin and Hair
While the minerals in Jersey City's water are not a health hazard to consume, they can affect your daily life. The calcium and magnesium react with soap to form a film, often called soap scum.
- This residue can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy, and may aggravate conditions like eczema.
- It can also coat your hair, making it appear dull and feel brittle.
- For families, preparing baby formula is a consideration, as the mineral content can be higher than desired.
The Right Filtration for Jersey City Homes
With moderately hard water, a whole-house system is usually not necessary or cost-effective. Your best options focus on improving water for consumption and specific uses.
- Recommendation: A high-quality pitcher filter (like a Brita Longlast or ZeroWater) or a faucet-mount filter is typically sufficient. These systems effectively reduce minerals for better-tasting coffee, tea, and drinking water.
- Whole-House Systems: A traditional water softener is not a sound investment here. Based on an estimated annual savings of $54, a professionally installed softener (around $1,500) would take nearly 28 years to pay for itself.
- Drinking Water Alternative: If you currently spend money on bottled water, an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system can pay for itself quickly by providing purified water on demand, eliminating that recurring cost.