Hard Water In Charlottesville: Should You Be Concerned?

Does Charlottesville have hard water issues?

If the tap water in your home appears discolored, opaque, or has a strange taste/odor to it, you may be cooking and washing with hard water. You don’t need to rush to the nearest emergency ward, but the long term effects of using hard water can result in costly plumbing repairs and minor hygiene issues.

If you’ve noticed signs of hard water from your taps, it may be time to replace your old water softener system. According to iWaterPurification, discolored clothing, latherless soap, spotty dishware - hard water forces your water appliances to work harder and less efficiently. Over time, hard water can also contribute to corrosion in the lead and copper piping that supplies water to your home.

Appliances such as your dishwasher and water heater can also deteriorate more quickly and consume more energy with prolonged use of hard water. You may find yourself replacing these appliances sooner than expected because hard water can wear out heating elements, pipes, tubes, and even pipe fittings more rapidly than soft water.

So what exactly is hard water, and how does it get into your faucets?

Hard water is formed when high levels of calcium and magnesium enter the water supply. Since most of the United States was once submerged in seawater, high concentrations of limestone (the primary source for calcium and magnesium) can be found across much of the country.

In fact, according to the latest research, hard water affects 85% of households across the US, making it a significant problem. Hardness levels vary from community to community, and they can be substantially higher in communities that rely on well water.

Utah, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Wisconsin, and Indiana are classified as ‘very hard water states’ by the EPA because of the high concentration of calcium and magnesium found in the water supply. While municipal city water supplies are required to test water annually and provide clean, safe drinking water, climate and economics can play a significant role in the level of hardness for each state.

During the dry season, when there is less rainwater, hard water levels can rise, reaching as high as 17 gpg (grains per gallon). In communities where economics is a factor, such as Flint, Michigan, cost-cutting measures are largely responsible for the lack of clean, safe drinking water.

Thankfully, the most recent water quality report for Charlottesville, conducted annually by the RWSA, indicates that our water is rated soft to slightly hard. Currently hard water levels in Charlottesville average 26.0 mg/L, which is equivalent to 1.51 grains per gallon.

Hard water isn’t particularly dangerous to consume, but it does have health effects. Unpleasant odor and taste, as well as an opaque color to your water, are definite indications that you may be drinking hard water.

High levels of calcium, sodium, magnesium in your tap water can reduce the lathering agent in soap and leave behind spots on your glassware that just never seem to disappear no matter how many times you wash them. Hard water can also accelerate corrosion in your pipes.

To prevent lead and copper from entering your water from pipes, a polyphosphate chemical is added by the RWSA (Rivanna Water & Sewage Authority). The polyphosphate forms a protective layer over pipes that reduces corrosion. The US EPA and the Virginia Dept of Health require lead and copper testing every 3 years. Our last test, conducted in 2016, indicated that we were well below Active Levels established by the EPA for lead and copper.

Lead poses a serious health risk to pregnant women and young children. To minimize the risk of lead consumption, use cold water for cooking rather than hot. You should also flush your taps for about 30 seconds before using the water for washing, cooking, or drinking water.

Have questions? For more information, you can read the full Water Quality Report for Charlottesville online.

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