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There are many myths and falsehoods about the effects of hard or soft water on human health. In many unverified sources, you can even read outright lies – such as that one should consume distilled water or completely replace water with fruit juices. However, this can lead to serious health problems. Find out the real impact of water hardness on human health.
Water hardness is essentially the amount of dissolved minerals in the water, primarily calcium and magnesium. The more dissolved minerals in the water, the higher the water hardness. Water naturally acquires minerals from the environment it flows through. Different locations have different geological conditions, and in the Czech Republic, calcareous subsoil predominates. This also means that most drinking water in the Czech Republic is hard (i.e., contains increased amounts of calcium and magnesium).
All water in nature, including drinking water, contains a certain amount of minerals – it has always been this way, and the human body is adapted to such water. So-called distilled or osmotic water (pure H2O) does not occur in nature; it is created only by treatment (human intervention). This water, however, is not drinkable.
For human health, consuming water with a sufficient mineral content is important.
Water hardness is expressed in various units, such as mg of dissolved minerals per litre, but more often in units of mmol/l.
Soft water: is water with a mineral content of less than 0.5 mmol/l. Examples of soft water include rainwater or distilled water.
Optimal water hardness: ranges from 0.7-2.5 mmol/l. This water is most beneficial for our health.
Hard water: contains more than 2.5 mmol/l of minerals.
Very hard water: is water with a mineral content of more than 3.75 mmol/l. These are so-called mineral waters.
Are you curious whether you have hard water at home? You can usually tell simply by the limescale deposits on taps, kettles, or coffee makers. Simple home tests for measuring water hardness can also be purchased at a drugstore. If you want precise values, you can have a laboratory water analysis done. If you draw water from waterworks, the supplier is legally obliged to inform you of the exact mineral content of the drinking water.
It is generally known that hard water negatively affects electrical appliances and household equipment: it creates limescale, which is not only unsightly but also causes appliance malfunctions and shortens their lifespan. Additionally, cosmetic and cleaning products dissolve less effectively in hard water, leading to higher consumption.
However, the impact of hard water on human health is not so straightforward.
In general, consuming water with a higher mineral content is beneficial to health, and it cannot be replaced by distilled water or water treated by so-called reverse osmosis – such demineralized water is not drinkable.
Minerals are involved in most biochemical processes in the human body and are indispensable. They ensure the proper functioning of vital organs, the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and the musculoskeletal system. However, everything has its caveats, and even very hard water carries certain health risks:
Hard water dries out the skin, which can worsen eczema and other skin diseases. However, hard water does not directly cause these problems.
Long-term consumption of very hard or mineral water is associated with a higher risk of developing urinary, gall, and kidney stones, arthritis, or high blood pressure, according to studies.
Soft water, on the other hand, does not provide the body with enough minerals, which need to be supplemented in other ways, such as increased consumption of bottled mineral waters. Otherwise, the risk significantly increases:
of neurological and cardiovascular problems,
of deteriorated quality of the musculoskeletal system, teeth, nails, and hair,
of reduced immune system function,
of pregnancy complications, etc.
Soft water is therefore clearly more harmful than hard water. Nevertheless, it is advisable to address very hard water – both due to the aforementioned health risks and to protect appliances. However, it is necessary to choose a suitable water softener and set the optimal output water hardness. How to Soften Water?
Honeywell hard water treatment plant.
While there is currently no solution for the problem of excessively soft water (so-called mineralization is not very effective), excessively hard water can be easily treated using water softeners. However, not all softeners are the same. For treating drinking water for households and larger buildings, we recommend ion exchange-based softeners. In this type of water treatment plant, dissolved calcium and magnesium ions are absorbed with the help of salt, and sodium ions are released.
These water treatment plants allow you to easily set the desired output hardness value, which for water intended for consumption should be in the range of 2-3.5 mmol/l (i.e., slightly hard to hard water).
If you have the option to treat water intended for consumption separately from the rest of the water (i.e., for washing, cleaning, appliances), take advantage of it. For water not intended for direct consumption in the household, the optimal hardness is lower, around 1-2.5 mmol/l. Such soft water will ensure the long lifespan of appliances, low consumption of cleaning products, and supple skin after bathing.
Nothing is black and white, and no extreme is good. Therefore, do not be misled and when treating drinking water at home, rely on the advice of qualified experts. Only then can you be sure that you are consuming truly healthy water.
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