How Hard is My Water Based on My Location?
You may have noticed that your water softener flies through salt and wondered: “How hard is my water?” Your region's geology is the leading contributor to mineral content in your water. As a resource for you, Gunther Salt Company explains the basics of soft water zones versus hard water zones — read on to check water hardness in your area.
The Basics of Tap Water
Tap water comes from two primary resources: surface water and groundwater. While tap water from both sources is treated to remove disease-causing agents, it still contains abundant minerals. Calcium and magnesium are generally safe to consume, but they may build up and cause problems within your home or business.
Different areas of the U.S. can expect varying levels of hardness to their water due to concentrations of minerals within available water sources. For those wondering “how hard is my water,” we would generally divide locations into two categories: hard water zones and soft water zones.
Soft Water Zones
Locations with direct access to rivers and lakes are often considered soft water zones. Water from these sources rests on top of rocks, minerals and sedimentation and remains in motion. While this water will still contain minerals, it will not maintain enough contact time to pick up the same amount as groundwater.
Generally, only 15% of the U.S. lives in a soft water zone — this includes select states in the Southeast, Northeast, Northwest and near the Gulf of Mexico. While you’d have to check water hardness to be sure, these areas generally have less than three grains per gallon (gpg) of minerals in their water.
Hard Water Zones
States within the Midwest, East Coast and Southwest regions rely primarily on groundwater — making nearly 85% of the U.S. a hard water zone. These water sources lie just below the earth’s surface, with water traveling through layers of sedimentation and picking up excess minerals before it finally settles in an underground aquifer.
But how hard is your water? The answer is complicated — the amount of minerals in each area’s water varies. For example, the Midwest has some of the hardest water in the country, with many households averaging 16 gpg — a dramatic difference from the “very hard” designation of 10 gpg.
The gpg of water depends on specific environmental factors in your region, such as:
Mineral deposits. Some states have substantial limestones and chalk deposits underground. For example, Missouri is the U.S.’ top producer of lime and fourth in crushed limestone production — as a result of these rich deposits, the state is known for having harder water.
Travel distance. Groundwater fills the space between soil and fractured rocks — in some areas, water has to travel farther to reach these spaces. This gives water more time to collect “hard” minerals, contributing to varying degrees of hardness within the same region.
Proximity to industry hubs. Certain industries, such as mining or agriculture, involve the disturbance or use of lime. As a result, loose minerals are more easily picked up by water as it begins its journey.
You can assume whether your water is soft or hard based on the area you live in — however, there’s no way to accurately check water hardness unless you conduct one of three simple hard water tests.
Gunther Salt’s Service Areas
Gunther Salt Company is a premier salt supplier for one of the largest hard water zones in the U.S. Our services cover many Midwestern states, including Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
While we can’t accurately answer “How hard is my water?” without a test, we can help protect your facility from the risks of hard water buildup. Gunther Salt offers cost-effective water-softening salt that removes calcium and magnesium from your water supply. More than that, our team readily answers questions about product details, safety, delivery and beyond
For bulk water softening salt, visit our Bulk Ordering page to provide your product and delivery information. For custom pallet deliveries, visit our Other Ordering page to contact a representative.
