Effects on Skin and Hair
While the minerals in East Brunswick's water are safe to drink, they can affect your quality of life. The primary complaints are cosmetic: minerals left behind after a shower can lead to dry skin, an itchy scalp, and dull, brittle hair. Soap and shampoo don't rinse away cleanly, leaving a residue that clogs pores. For families, this same residue can make preparing clear, great-tasting baby formula more difficult.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for East Brunswick
For moderately hard water at 5.0 GPG, a full, salt-based water softener is typically not a sound financial investment. A whole-house softener (~$1,500 installed) pays for itself in a staggering 27.8 years through savings of just $54/year. A more practical strategy is to target the specific problems.
- For Drinking Water: A high-quality pitcher filter (like ZeroWater or Brita) or a simple faucet-mount filter is perfectly adequate for removing minerals and improving taste. An under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system is an excellent choice to eliminate the need for bottled water, which costs the average family $600-$900 per year.
- For Appliances: For homeowners concerned about their water heater, a dedicated scale-reduction filter at the heater's inlet is a cost-effective alternative to a whole-house system.