Hard water

Hard water is water that has a high mineral content (contrast with soft water).

The hardness of the water results in a calcification

The main components of these minerals usually are calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions. But there are also dissolved metals, bicarbonates, and sulfates. Calcium usually enters the water as either calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in the form of limestone and chalk, or calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) in the form of several other mineral deposits. The main source of magnesium is dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂). Hard water is generally not harmful and some hardness in water is a useful source of calcium for healthy bone development .

Other websites

• Alcoa Chemical, Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) Calculator Archived 2007-12-01 at the Wayback Machine