Hard water, scale and stains

How hard is hard?

The U.S. Geological Survey classifies water by hardness as calcium carbonate: 0 to 60 milligrams per liter is soft, 61 to 120 moderately hard, 121 to 180 hard, and more than 180 very hard. You may also see it in grains per gallon; one grain is about 17.1 mg/L.

Find your numbers

Every community water system has to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report, the water quality report. Look for hardness, or calcium and magnesium, in your utility's report. Much of the Newberry County Water & Sewer Authority's water comes from its Lake Murray treatment plant, and surface water from a lake is often softer than groundwater, but check the report rather than guessing.

On a private well, nobody tests for you. The SC Department of Environmental Services offers well water testing; ask for hardness, iron and pH along with bacteria.

Signs and fixes

• White crust on faucets and showerheads: soak aerators and heads in vinegar.
• Spots on dishes and glass: a rinse aid helps.
• Water heater rumbling: scale and sediment on the bottom; flush the tank. Water heater.
• Orange or brown stains: usually iron, not hardness, and common on wells. Iron needs a different filter than a softener.
• Brown water after work on the street: the City of Newberry says changes in flow can stir up mineral deposits in water mains; run the cold bathtub tap until it clears and call if it does not.

Water softeners

A softener swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium. It is worth it mainly where water tests hard. Before you buy, get a water test, ask how the unit will be sized, where it will drain, and whether you want a bypass for the kitchen drinking tap and outdoor hose bibs. If you are on septic, ask the installer about the regeneration discharge.