How Hard Water Affects Your Family
While municipally treated hard water is safe to drink, its mineral content has noticeable effects on skin and hair. The dissolved calcium and magnesium react with soap to form a residue, often called soap scum. This residue can:
- Leave skin feeling dry and itchy after showering.
- Cause hair to become brittle, dull, and difficult to manage.
- Clog skin pores, potentially aggravating conditions like eczema or acne.
For families, preparing baby formula with hard water can be a concern, as excess minerals may alter the nutritional balance. Many parents prefer using filtered water for mixing formula.
The Right Filtration for Santa Fe's Water
With a hardness level of 7.3 GPG, Santa Fe water is best treated with a whole-home solution to protect your plumbing and appliances.
- Recommended System: A salt-free water conditioner is an excellent choice for this hardness level. It prevents scale from forming without the maintenance or salt discharge of a traditional softener. For superior drinking water, pair this with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system.
- The Financial Case: Hard water costs the average household $76 per year in hidden energy and maintenance costs. A whole-house softener (approx. $1,500 installed) can pay for itself in 19.7 years through these savings alone, not including the extended life of your appliances.
- Ditch the Bottles: An under-sink RO system provides better-than-bottled quality water from your tap, eliminating the $600-$900 annual expense many families spend on bottled water.