Iron. It is seen in water as rust stains in sinks, showers and other fixtures. At only 3/10 of one part per million staining becomes obvious.
Hard water forms scale build-up in plumbing and water using appliances, causing the need to repair or replace these items more frequently. Treated water can increase the useful life of these items by up to 30%.
Hard water forms a scale build-up in appliances such as water heaters. If the scale is only 1/8″ thick, 33% more fuel is required to heat the water.
pH measures acidity or alkalidity and is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A reading of 7 is neutral. Low pH indicates acidity and can cause corrosion in pipes and fixtures. Blue/green or rust color stains are often a result of low pH water.
One way cities treat water is to add chlorine gas. Chlorine above .2 parts per million produces an unpleasant taste and odor. Large amounts can irritate the skin and eyes.
A “rotten egg” smell indicates the presence of hydrogen sulfide. This develops from decaying organic matter, and some bacteria.
Hard water is the amount of minerals, calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in your water.