Hardness Minerals

Water Softener

Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water Across Florida

Hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, are common contaminants found in drinking water supplies across Florida. While not considered a major health threat, hardness minerals can cause a variety of nuisance issues and may contribute to scale buildup in pipes and appliances.

What Causes Hard Water?

Hardness minerals enter drinking water supplies through contact with geologic formations and soils that are rich in calcium and magnesium. In Florida, the underlying limestone geology interacts with groundwater to pick up these dissolved minerals. Areas that rely on groundwater wells or surface water impacted by limestone aquifers tend to have hard water issues.

The most common sources of hardness minerals in Florida drinking water include:

The Floridan Aquifer System
Limestone bedrock geology
Ion exchange with soils
Runoff from agricultural areas using limestone amendments

Potential Health Effects of Hard Water

While not acutely toxic, the health effects of hard water are an emerging area of research. Some studies have linked long-term consumption of hard water to increased risks of:

Cardiovascular disease
Reproductive issues
Skin irritation and eczema
Kidney stones
Constipation

Hardness minerals can also interfere with the proper absorption of nutrients from water and foods. For sensitive individuals, hard water effects on personal care may exacerbate skin conditions.

However, the research is ongoing and not yet conclusive on direct health risks from drinking hard water. For most people, the biggest concerns with hard water involve nuisance problems like scale buildup, effect on appliances, and reduced cleaning effectiveness.

Treating Hard Water in Florida Homes

To reduce nuisance hard water problems in your Florida home, a water softener or alternative water treatment system is recommended. Here are some effective options for removing hardness minerals:

AquaLux Water Softener - Ion exchange water softeners use salt to remove hardness minerals and replace them with non-scaling sodium ions. This is the most common solution for whole home protection from hard water issues.
AquaCarbonGuard Catalytic Carbon Filter - Multi-stage carbon filtration can help reduce moderate hardness levels without using salt or chemicals. This is an alternative option for homes with hardness under 150 ppm.
AquaBlue Whole House Filter System - Combining sediment filtration with Activated Carbon, this system helps protect all water fixtures while removing some hardness minerals.
AquaRevive Reverse Osmosis System - Under sink reverse osmosis uses a membrane to remove over 95% of hardness minerals for clean, soft water at one faucet.
WellFusion Well Water Treatment Systems - Comprehensive treatment for private well water with customizable combinations of sediment pre-filters, softeners, UV, and carbon to treat hardness issues.

Cleaner Water is Healthier Water

While research continues into the potential health effects of consuming hard water over time, protecting your home and family today with modern water treatment can give peace of mind.

Softening hard water also provides immediate benefits like:

Smoother skin and hair
Cleaner dishes and clothing
Less scale buildup on fixtures
Improved water heater efficiency
Longer life for water-using appliances

Schedule Your FREE Water Test Today: 727-236-7161 to see if hardness minerals are impacting your indoor water quality. Aqua-Wise Water Treatment Solutions serves Florida with affordable systems to remove hard water issues.