Hard water is water that contains large amounts of dissolved minerals like calcium, manganese (man guh NEEZ) and magnesium (mag NEE zee um). Hardness minerals are measured in 'grains per gallon,' abbreviated G-P-G, or 'parts per million,' abbreviated P-P-M. If water has more than one grain per gallon, or over 17.1 parts per million of these minerals, it's considered 'hard.' Water picks up minerals from rocks in the ground, so whether your water is hard or soft will depend mainly on what part of the country you're in. You can soften water that's slightly hard, just for comfort's sake. But when water is over three G-P-G hard, water softeners are necessary, to avoid deposits that can clog pipes and leave stains. In these cases, a water softener can actually pay for itself, by reducing the amount of soap and water you need to wash and rinse. There are several ways to test water for hardness. Do-it-yourself kits are available at many home improvement stores. you could also contact the city water department, the county extension agent, or a water conditioning company.
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