You can’t tell whether water is hard or soft simply by looking at it. It probably won’t be discoloured or have lumps floating about in it. All in all, it should appear to be pretty much crystal clear. The thing that determines water hardness is the amount of minerals and chemicals contained within it – which are invisible to the naked eye.

When water is said to be hard, it is because it has a high mineral content.
Interestingly, when water falls from the sky as rain, it isn’t hard. It’s what lies in the ground below that influences whether it will become hard or not. As water percolates through the ground, if it is met by deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum, which are mostly made up of calcium and magnesium, it is these deposits that turn the water hard.

And because the soil content in this area, i.e., Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey,
contains loads of limestone and predominantly chalk, it is inevitable that the mains water supply coming into our homes is just about the hardest type of water found anywhere in Britain.

How hard water impacts everyday life in the home 

As examples of how this is all too clearly visible, if you don’t have a water softener, and you like soaking in a bath, have you noticed how quickly the bubbles disappear?  Or if you are washing up by hand, how quickly does the washing up liquid will dissolve, leaving a film of gungy looking water? Or how difficult it is to keep kitchen surfaces, sinks or glass looking clean and shiny – even after persistent cleaning. And when towels and shirts come out of the washing machine feeling all hard and starchy – rather than smooth to the touch – it’s all because you up against hard water. It’s a never-ending battle. 

As this video shows, there is a big difference in how hard water behaves compared to soft water.

This is exactly why water softeners are so popular in the south of England.

If you are concerned about the hardness of the water in your home, we are here to help. Contact Scott Jenkins Water Softeners and we will find a soft water solution that matches your household requirements. We are one of the leading providers of high-quality water softeners, water filters and accessories in the south of England, with particular focus on West and East Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Why not give us a call on 01243 607494 or email scott@sjbs.info