However, hard water sediments can also carry potentially harmful bacteria along with them. Hard water is a fact of life in Tampa, Florida. In fact, about 85% of the country’s water supply is hard water. The hardness of water is determined primarily by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Water softeners are sized by the capacity in grains. Together with Tampa Bay Water, the region’s wholesale water supplier, we routinely monitor for contaminants and provide annual water quality reports to our customers. Even if you do have hard water, there are a couple of common ways to prevent this from happening. Benefits of Water Softening Hard Water FAQ Hard Water and Laundering How Water Softeners Work Water Hardness Map of the US Our Water Softener Systems. First, let’s look at what hard water is and why it matters. The only state in the southeast which does not generally possess soft water is Florida; it instead possesses hard to very hard water. Soap is used to wash away dirt and grime, but when soap doesn’t get rinsed … Hard water can have a negative impact on laundry – and once again – it’s all due to the rocky relationship minerals like calcium and magnesium have with soap and detergent. Testing the pH of your water for high concentrations of minerals before and after filtration can really illustrate what a difference these devices make. Not everyone thinks about the sort of water that runs through their faucets. Other states which possess soft water exist in the far northeast and far northwest portions of the country. This is considered fairly hard as far as hard water is concerned. If you have hard water in your home, the water that comes out of your faucets can leave behind mineral deposits on your dishes and faucets, leave your skin dry and your hair flat, and can lead to low water pressure throughout your home. Most often when you move into a new home you get the house inspected for everything under the sun. Water in the Tampa Bay area has an average hardness of 7-10 grains per gallon. While it really isn't an earth shattering problem if you do find you have hard water running through your home, the upkeep and maintenance of your home tends to be more cumbersome. Florida typically has relatively high hard water levels - so it is quite likely the water from your tap is hard water. Though hard water poses no threat to your health, it’s an aggravating problem many homeowners throughout the country face. A 2014 study found hard water scaling is directly responsible for bacterial growth in residential drinking water. Information on Hard Water. So, theoretically, a 40,000 grain water softener will be able to soften 4000 gallons of water at 10 grains per gallon before it needs to "regenerate". According to the city, the local water supply is squarely in the range of what the U.S. Geological Society defines as being hard. Higher levels of these and other minerals make water hard. If you suspect your home has hard water, there’s an easy way to find out. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires monitoring for more than 80 drinking water contaminants, which are included in annual water quality reports if they are detected. Here are 5 real-life problems hard water causes: 1. The U.S. Geological Survey says 85% of homes in the nation have hard water. Water Hardness Table of Classifications. grains per gallon (gpg) … The softest waters occur in parts of the New England, South Atlantic-Gulf, Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii regions.