How Hard Water Affects Your Skin and Hair
While the minerals in Iselin's water are not a health hazard to consume, they can affect your quality of life. Moderately hard water reacts with soap to form a residue that doesn't rinse off easily. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema
- Dull, brittle hair that's difficult to manage
- Soap scum buildup on shower doors and fixtures
For families, this also means baby formula mixed with tap water will contain these extra minerals, which is something to be aware of.
Filtration Guide for Iselin's 5.0 GPG Water
For moderately hard water, a whole-house water softener is usually not a sound investment. A system costing around $1,500 would take 27.8 years to pay for itself through the estimated annual savings of $54. A more practical approach for Iselin homes is point-of-use filtration.
- For Drinking Water: A high-quality pitcher filter (like a Brita Elite) or a faucet-mount filter will significantly improve taste and remove chlorine.
- For Maximum Purity: An under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system eliminates the mineral content entirely for drinking and cooking water, ending the need to spend $600-$900 a year on bottled water.
A full home softener is not recommended at this hardness level due to the long payback period and minimal return.