There is no one answer to the question of whether your well water is soft or hard water, as the water quality of all wells differs according to location and the mineral composition of the soil and bedrock. When the ground surrounding well water is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, these minerals can attach themselves to the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the water. The more minerals that latch onto the water molecules, the harder your water will be.
How hard or soft your well water is determines the quality of your water, so let’s take a deeper look at well water and how you can determine whether yours is soft or hard water.
What Is Well Water?
Well water is water that is pumped from underground water stores called aquifers. These aquifers are naturally-occurring, underground stores of water that collect rainwater that seeps through the above soil. The water generally collects on a layer of bedrock, and the particular location within the ground where aquifers are located is known as the water table. The location and depth of a water table depend on certain factors such as whether or not there is a body of water nearby, and whether the land is mountainous or flat.
Older wells consisted of long, wide shafts that reached all the way through the soil to the water table below. Today, wells are dug using drills that can make narrower, even longer shafts that can reach deeper into the ground. Even so, the water still flows through the mineral-rich soil and sits atop bedrock, which may also contain water-soluble minerals that can leach into the well water. The more minerals that are in your well water, the harder your water will be.
How to Determine if Your Well Water Is Soft or Hard
Because water softness and hardness are based on the amount of minerals present in the water, you can’t determine whether your water is soft or hard simply by looking at it. While you may not be able to see if the water itself is soft or hard, you can see the effects your water has on your water fixtures and even your body. Because hard water is full of minerals like calcium and magnesium, it often leaves behind mineral deposits on your showerheads, in your sinks and in your toilet bowls. It can also cause discoloration, rust and staining to occur on these fixtures as well.
Soft water, on the other hand, contains less minerals and does not leave behind the residue that hard water does. Additionally, soft water cleans your skin and hair much better than hard water. Hard water often doesn’t fully rinse the soap and shampoo off of your body and can leave behind scum on your skin and hair, while soft water rinses away these products much better. This is because the water molecules are able to attach to the dirt and cleansing products in order to wash them away, rather than being bound by minerals.
Causes and Signs of Hard Water
In some areas, the water naturally contains a higher mineral content, usually calcium and magnesium, that can affect the hardness of the water. This can be a result of groundwater flowing over limestone, gathering mineral deposits along the way.
The signs of hard water include:
- Excessive scale buildup on pipes and appliances that use water. This scale may have a whitish appearance and doesn’t wash away easily.
- Soap and detergent that doesn’t lather well. Over time, the soap will turn into soap scum and stick to the shower walls, clothing, dishes and your skin or hair.
- Dingy clothing after washing. Soap that doesn’t lather properly can’t clean your clothing effectively, and it also leaves a residue behind. Over time, this may affect the color, texture or absorbency of your clothing.
- Rust stains on clothing. Rust is also common in sinks, toilets and tubs in homes with hard water, due to the high mineral content.
- Skin irritations or dull hair. The mineral buildup and soap scum leave a film on your hair and clothes, causing itching or irritated skin and dull hair.
Can Well Water Be Soft?
While well water isn’t inherently hard, it is more likely to be hard because it’s sourcing water from the ground instead of a water reservoir. Water in the ground will take on the minerals in the soil it travels through, so well water may have excess mineral content.
That doesn’t mean that well water will always be hard, however. Wells that are capable of reaching greater depths may not have the same issues with water-soluble minerals that cause hard water. Well water can also change in chemical composition as a result of changes in the soil, so it’s important to monitor it regularly to assess its hardness level.
Is Well Water Harder Than City Water?
City water, also called municipal water supply, is usually pumped from deep wells or surface water supplies and sent into a treatment center before reaching the pipes in your home. Though treatment may vary between municipalities, nearly all treatment includes the filtration of particulates and iron or manganese. City water is also tested for contaminants that may be a health risk, and it may be treated with chlorine to eliminate bacteria or pathogens. Despite all this treatment, city water doesn’t undergo any treatments to address hard water.
Well water is a private water supply that comes from a well drilled on private property. This water is pumped directly into the home from its source, though the original driller must submit a water sample to be tested for contaminants and heavy metals. From that point, however, it’s up to the homeowner to treat water for any quality issues, such as hard water.
Though the differences between city water and well water can be considerable, hard water is equally likely in both sources.
Contact EcoWater to Find Out More
If you believe that your well water is hard water, our experts at EcoWater Systems are here to help. We can help you determine whether your well water is soft or hard water, and we have multiple water softeners available to suit your specific needs. Located right in Las Vegas, Nevada, we provide water diagnoses and water softening services to citizens across the southern Nevada area. Contact us today to find out more!