How Hard Water Affects Your Family
While municipal water in El Paso is safe to drink, its extreme hardness has noticeable effects on skin and hair. The high mineral content prevents soap and shampoo from lathering properly, leaving behind a residue that can clog pores and lead to:
- Dry, itchy skin and scalp
- Aggravated conditions like eczema or psoriasis
- Dull, brittle, and difficult-to-manage hair
This residue can also be a concern when preparing baby formula, as the high mineral concentration can alter the nutritional balance.
Choosing the Right Filtration System for El Paso
With water hardness exceeding 15 GPG, the situation calls for a robust, whole-house solution.
- Best Solution: A whole-house, salt-based water softener is the most effective way to protect your entire plumbing system. For the purest drinking water, pair it with an under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) system.
- Alternative: A salt-free water conditioner can help prevent scale buildup without using salt, but it will not provide the other benefits of softened water like better soap lathering.
A properly installed whole-house softener (around $1,500) will pay for itself. With potential annual savings of $221 on energy, detergent, and appliance longevity, the system has a payback period of just 6.8 years in El Paso.