How Moderately Hard Water Affects Your Family
While safe to drink, the 6.6 GPG water in Viola has noticeable effects on skin and hair. The high mineral content prevents soap from lathering and rinsing completely, leaving a residue on your skin. This can lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and exacerbated eczema
- Dull, brittle, and difficult-to-manage hair
- Soap scum rings in bathtubs and showers
For families with infants, preparing baby formula with hard water can introduce extra minerals and may lead to buildup in bottles and sterilizers.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for Viola
At a 6.6 GPG hardness level, a whole-house water softener is often not a cost-effective solution. The estimated payback period for such a system is 20.8 years, based on annual savings of just $72. For most households in Viola, a more targeted approach is better:
- For Drinking Water: A high-quality pitcher filter (e.g., Brita, ZeroWater) or a faucet-mounted filter is sufficient to remove minerals and improve the taste of your drinking water and coffee.
- For Skin/Hair Issues: If dry skin is a primary concern, consider a showerhead filter, which is an inexpensive way to soften the water specifically for bathing.
- When to Consider a Softener: If you have very sensitive skin, high-end fixtures you wish to protect, or simply cannot stand soap scum and appliance scale, a whole-house system is an option, but be aware of the long-term cost.
An under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system can also eliminate the need to buy bottled water, saving the average family $600-$900 per year.