How Hard Water Affects Your Family
While municipal water in Edmond is safe to drink, its hardness impacts daily life. The high mineral content prevents soap from lathering effectively, leading to a residue left on your skin and hair after washing. This can cause:
- Dry, itchy skin and aggravated eczema
- Dull, brittle hair and an itchy scalp
- A feeling of 'soap scum' on your skin after showering
For families with infants, using very hard water to prepare baby formula can be a concern for mineral concentration, though it is not considered a direct health hazard.
The Right Filtration for Edmond's Water
With water hardness at 17.1 GPG, a simple pitcher filter is not sufficient to protect your home. The recommendation for Edmond is clear:
- Best Solution: A whole-house, salt-based water softener combined with an under-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for drinking water. The softener removes the damaging minerals from your entire plumbing system, while the RO filter purifies water for cooking and drinking.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner can reduce scale buildup but will not 'soften' the water or provide the same benefits for skin and soap usage.
The Payback: A professionally installed water softener costs around $1,500. With estimated annual savings of $184 on energy, detergent, and appliance longevity, the system pays for itself in approximately 8.2 years while protecting your home's most expensive investments.