Daily Effects on Skin and Hair
While safe to drink, Geneva's very hard water makes daily routines more difficult. The minerals react with soaps, creating a residue instead of a clean lather. This leads to common complaints such as:
- Persistently dry skin and hair
- Itchy scalp and dandruff-like conditions
- Soap scum that is difficult to clean in sinks, showers, and tubs
- A feeling of film left on the skin after washing
Choosing the Right Filtration System for Geneva
For water hardness at the 18.7 GPG level, you need a solution designed to handle a heavy mineral load. Standard carbon filters (in pitchers or on faucets) are not effective against hardness.
- Recommended Solution: A whole-house ion exchange (salt-based) water softener is the definitive solution. It physically removes the hardness minerals, protecting your entire home. For superior drinking water, combine it with an under-sink reverse osmosis system.
- Salt-Free Alternative: If you prefer to avoid salt, a salt-free water conditioner can be a good option. It works by altering the minerals to prevent them from sticking to surfaces, but it does not soften the water.
Financial Sense: A whole-house softener installation costs about $1,500. With calculated annual savings of $198 on energy bills from Ohio Power Co, cleaning supplies, and avoiding early appliance replacement, the system pays for itself in 7.6 years.