Is There Any Signs of Hard Water in the City?

Did you know that as high as 86 percent of people in the United States get their water from a public water supply system? Yes, believe it or not, municipal (city) water is becoming more and more common these days with the global population growing rapidly. Before water can reach your home, the city will filter, disinfect, and sometimes supplement that water.

It is common for people to assume that once the municipality goes through this extensive water treatment process, the water must be acceptable by the time it reaches their home. The truth is city water still needs to be addressed in the house to assure you and your family are getting high-quality water and are safe from unwanted contaminants.

How Do I Know If I Have City Water?

It could be you are a new homeowner, or maybe you just haven’t thought about how the water in your home gets there in the first place. If you are ever left wondering what type of water you have, there are a few telltale signs to help you find out.

• Do you receive a water bill? If your home is using city water, you should receive a water bill in the mail from your local utility company. This money is used for treating the water and getting that water to your home. Well water, on the other hand, you do not have to pay per gallon used, but it is the homeowner’s responsibility to keep up with maintenance and other expenses that come with owning that well.
• Is there a water meter located on your property? City water homes usually have a water meter somewhere on the premises to record how much water you use.
• Do you notice a pressure tank or water pump near the home? If so, then you certainly have well water and not city water. Water from a well works in part with a pressure tank system to maintain constant water pressure in the house.

You have now solidified that, indeed, you have city water. If the city treats your water, it should be good to use for your everyday needs, right? Well, not necessarily.  

Do I Have to Treat my Water if it Comes from The City?

Two common complaints come from people living with city water: signs of hard water and high chlorine levels. Homes in urban areas are still susceptible to hard water minerals, like calcium and magnesium, because municipal water treatment usually does not remove these because they are not harmful to your health. Still, they do have some aesthetic and financial effects. Signs of hard water can be an excessive amount of limescale and soap scum that builds up on your shower walls and faucets.

Your fixtures are not the only things that suffer from poor water quality. Hard water also has adverse effects on the human body, like dry skin and damaged hair. Frizziness and breakage are signs of hard water on your hair that you may notice after showering. The buildup of calcium and magnesium produces a layer of “film” on the hair, preventing moisture from getting into the hair shaft and leaving it brittle. Another sign of hard water on your hair is a dry scalp.

Another common complaint from homeowners living with city water concerns the high chlorine levels in their water. Municipalities will add chlorine to the water to help prevent bacterial contamination when it leaves their facility.  While this seems like a good thing on paper, homeowners are often left with a chlorine taste and smell in their water when it reaches their homes. The odor is irritating, and chlorine is notorious for drying out your skin and hair.

Luckily, you are not helpless if you encounter any of these adverse effects from hard water or chlorine. There are many solutions to your city's water problems, like installing a water softener or filtration system.

City Water Solutions

Once you have identified that you are on city water and you start to notice some signs of hard water and other common complaints, it is time to work on a solution to the problem. The correct water treatment system for your situation is best achieved by contacting a professional. Your local Evolve dealer has many unique solutions to common (and not-so-common) water issues. One of the more popular solutions for residential water is our EVRC Water Softener. This product is impressive because it has two types of water treatment media instead of just one. Water-softening resin in the unit removes the hardness, and carbon finishes the job by filtering out the chlorine left over. The result? Those signs of hard water you noticed should dissipate, and your water will no longer have the dreaded swimming pool-like taste and smell.

If you are having trouble with your city water, contact us to request a free water test from your authorized Evolve Series dealer today. They will gladly come to your home, test your water, and develop the optimal solution so you and your family can enjoy clean, soft water daily!