Hard water has high levels of dissolved minerals, like calcium and magnesium, whereas soft water has low levels of these minerals. While hard water is not harmful to your health, it brings about various challenges.
For starters, it reduces soap’s ability to lather, creating soap scum, which can lead to ineffective cleaning. Furthermore, mineral deposits from hard water can clog pipes over time.
When hard water is heated or evaporates, calcium and magnesium, which exist in a soluble form, change to insoluble forms. This creates visible, chalky deposits, known as limescale. Limescale buildup on faucets, pipes, and in appliances can reduce efficiency and cause damage.
Water softness matters, as it prevents such challenges, which are not uncommon in Las Vegas households and businesses. The city’s water supply is very hard, due to its primary source, the Colorado River and Lake Mead.
It’s crucial for Las Vegas residents to understand the different types of water, and the available treatment options to protect plumbing and appliances. Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas offers a wide array of professional water softening solutions to help your home or business today.
Learn more about Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas.
What Causes Hard Water in Las Vegas?
Nearly 90% of the water used in Las Vegas comes from the Colorado River. The water begins as snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains and then flows into small streams that form a series of tributaries, which flow into the Colorado River. The river flows over mineral-rich areas, ancient seabeds, and limestone rocks, collecting minerals.
From the river, the mineral-rich water flows into the Hoover Dam, which creates Lake Mead. This large man-made reservoir provides a consistent water supply to Las Vegas residents. Although water from Lake Mead is treated to meet very high standards before its distribution, the treatment does not remove calcium and magnesium.
About 10% of Las Vegas’ water supply comes from regional aquifers, which also contain naturally high mineral content. Accordingly, water in essentially all of Las Vegas is considered “very hard.”
High levels of calcium and magnesium make water “hard,” a term that was first used to show how hard it is to use it for cleaning. Hard water causes aesthetic and household problems. Examples of visible signs to look out for are spots on dishes, chalky mineral deposits on faucets and showerheads, soap scum, appliance wear, dry skin, damaged hair, and stiff/faded clothes.
Understanding the Types of Water
Water can be soft, hard, or very hard. The Water Quality Association (WQA) categorizes water based on the degree of hardness. Water hardness is expressed in grains per gallon (gpg), where 1 grain is equal to 17.1 parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved calcium carbonate. A higher gpg indicates more dissolved minerals are present in the measured gallon of water.
Here are the categories:
- Less than 1 gpg: Soft water
- 1.0 to 3.5 gpg: Slightly hard
- 3.5 to 7.0 gpg: Moderately hard
- 7.0 to 10.5 gpg: Hard
- Above 10.5 gpg : Very hard
The gpg of the water supplied to Las Vegas is 16 to 17, making the city’s water be classified as “very hard.”
Hard water can have temporary or permanent hardness. Temporary hardness is caused by dissolved bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. It can be removed by boiling water. Boiling decomposes the bicarbonates that precipitate out of the water, leaving it softer.
Permanent hardness is caused by sulfates, chlorides, and nitrates of calcium and magnesium. To remove such hardness, chemical treatments are required, including adding washing soda/slaked lime, or using processes, like ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation.
How To Soften Water at Home
- Ion exchange systems (water softeners): Use a water softener system to remove and replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium ions, resulting in soft water.
- Salt-free conditioners: Water conditioners do not remove hardness. Instead, they alter the structure of the minerals in hard water, using methods like magnetic fields and electrical induction to prevent scale buildup.
- Reverse osmosis (RO) systems: RO filtration uses high pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane, filtering out most dissolved solids, including hardness minerals and impurities. Our water softener company offers reliable reverse osmosis systems to help Las Vegas homeowners and business owners have access to pure water.
- DIY or temporary methods: You can use various temporary methods to soften water or manage the effects of hard water. For instance, boiling to remove temporary hardness and using water filters for limited use. Vinegar rinses also help in dissolving mineral deposits on dishes, laundry, skin, and hair.
Benefits of Softened Water
Softened water has many benefits, including:
- Protecting plumbing and appliances from mineral buildup: Since soft water does not result in mineral deposits/mineral scale, it protects pipes and appliances. This ensures plumbing systems and appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and coffee makers, work effectively. Soft water also extends the lifespan of pipes and plumbing systems.
- Improving water heater performance: The mineral buildup on the heating elements and the interior tank walls of a water heater can form an insulating layer, which can prevent an efficient transfer of heat to water. This can cause a water heater to work harder to overcome the insulator, leading to increased energy bills. Having a supply of soft water ensures your water heater works efficiently.
- Improving cleaning efficiency: Soft water allows soaps and detergents to lather easily. Thus, it improves cleaning efficiency and reduces the amount of product used. In addition, soft water rinses away completely, leaving no residue on surfaces.
- Providing softer skin, shinier hair, and longer-lasting clothing: Hard water usually leaves a filmy, mineral-based residue on the skin that can clog pores and strip away its natural oils, leaving it dry and itchy. When you wash your hair with hard water, minerals can build up on hair strands, making them dry and brittle. Moreover, hard water minerals can cling to fabric, causing clothes to fade or become stiff. Soft water does not leave residue on skin, hair, and clothing.
- Reducing maintenance and repair costs: By protecting pipes and appliances, soft water reduces maintenance and repair costs. It ensures plumbing systems and appliances are under less stress.
Choosing the Right Water Softening Solution in Las Vegas
Firstly, you need to know the hardness level of the water supplied to your home or business. This helps you determine the right system for you. This is because a system that softens slightly hard water may not be suitable for very hard water. Additionally, you should calculate your daily water usage. You’ll want to install a system whose capacity meets or exceeds your daily requirement.
Professional installation and maintenance are vital when it comes to water softening solutions. Choose a trusted local provider to ensure the installation meets all local codes and regulations on sizing and performance.
Local providers are also adequately informed about the specific water quality solutions in the area and have solutions for those issues. Furthermore, working with a local provider ensures you receive timely services.
Conclusion
Softening water improves the quality of life and home efficiency. Being able to clean seamlessly with reduced time and effort, and having softer skin, hair, and clothes are notable benefits of soft water.
Soft water can save you from high energy bills that often result from appliances that are forced to work hard. It also saves you money by extending the lifespan of appliances.
Our company offers quality Las Vegas water softening services. We will test your water and provide professional solutions tailored to Las Vegas’ high mineral levels.
Contact Rain Water Conditioning of Las Vegas today to improve the quality of your water.
Sources:
Scale Deposits. (n.d.).
The Science Behind Water Softeners: Understanding the Ion Exchange Process. (2023).