How hard is 'hard'?
0-3 grains per gallon (gpg): soft.
3-7 gpg: moderately hard.
7-10 gpg: hard.
10+ gpg: very hard. Most local wells sit here.
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What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water with a high concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Groundwater picks these minerals up as it flows through limestone and dolomite bedrock — the kind that sits under most of Bucks County — which is why nearly every private well in this area tests hard.
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What hard water does to your house
Deposits scale (calcium carbonate) inside pipes, water heaters, dishwashers, and coffee makers, shortening their lifespan.
Wastes soap and detergent — hard water reacts with soap to form scum, so you need 2-3x as much to get the same lather.
Leaves spots on glassware and a filmy residue in showers.
Dries out skin and hair, and dulls laundry over time.
Is hard water bad for you?
No — hard water is safe to drink. In fact the calcium and magnesium are dietary minerals your body uses. The reason to treat hard water is protecting your plumbing, appliances, and quality of life, not health.
How to know your hardness number
A quick lab test gives you a hardness value in grains per gallon. That number, plus your iron level and household size, is what we use to size a softener correctly. Contact WellInsight and we'll add hardness to your next water test.
Not sure what your results mean or which treatment fits your home? Contact us at WellInsight for a plain-English walkthrough of your options.
Curious how hard your water really is?
Test once, know for good. Contact WellInsight to schedule a hardness test with your next lab panel.