Our ancestors would be amazed at the cleanliness of our water and how it flows into our homes. We have come a long way, but as our water needs evolve, it has become evident that not all water is equal. Water quality issues can go beyond the difference between clean and raw water. There are many different ways to use water in your home, are you using the right type of water for these tasks and how can you make your water better?
More Effective Bathing
Most people enjoy the feeling of being clean after a hard day or work or a workout at the gym. If you have hard water in your home, your bathing experience is not all that it could be and you’re missing out on a better way to stay clean. Hard water has a higher concentration of minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, and limescale, that can bind with your soaps and body oils. When you wash this will result in a sticky residue that is covering your body and the tub or shower tray.
Washing Hair
Some people suffer from hair issues; their hair may be dull, dry and prone to frizziness. Again the common perception is that particular hair care products are to blame, but this is not necessarily true. The hard water minerals lock the detergent and conditioners in hair care products into your hair. When you cannot effectively rinse this material out of your hair after washing it will have a terrible effect on how it looks and feels. Imagine that the soap scum you need to scrub off your shower door is locked into your hair and you can visualize the adverse effects easily. Many expensive salon treatments are purely focused on treating the effects of hard water on your hair. If a water softener is installed, the water will be capable of rinsing effectively making your hair stronger, healthier and cleaner,
Cooking with Softer Water
Water is used in a lot of different cooking tasks and recipes, so it stands to reason that using harder water will have an adverse effect on the results. High amounts of chlorine and hard minerals can affect the flavor of food washed and cooked in it. Also, excessive quantities of minerals can even increase the boiling point of your water increasing cooking times and energy usage. Hard water can also be a significant factor in baking. If you’re struggling to get lighter or fluffy results your water may be the culprit. Excessive quantities of dissolved minerals can affect the structure of gluten in the flour and change how yeast and baking soda function. This can lead to pasta that has a gummy texture and homemade bread that is tough and hard to eat.
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state.