Our house doesn’t have access to the town’s water supply.
Instead, we have a water well on our property.
While we have a plentiful supply of water, it is overrun with an abundance of calcium, lime and rust. The hard water damages everything it touches. The aerators on our faucets continually become clogged and need to be cleaned. The finish on the showerhead and faucets corrodes much more quickly than they should. The sinks and tubs become stained and require cleaning with abrasive chemicals. Because of the hard water, our soap, dish soap, laundry detergent and shampoo doesn’t lather like it should, and we need to use more of it. It creates an excessive amount of soap scum that adds to cleaning requirements. Our towels, bed linens and clothing gradually develop an orange-like hue due to the water. I realized very quickly that I can’t use a dishwasher. At the end of the washing cycle, the plates and glasses would be cloudy and spotted. I’d end up rewashing everything. Plus, any of our appliances that come in contact with our water have issues. They need to be frequently repaired and never last as long as expected. The service and replacement costs add up. While a water heater should last at least ten to fifteen years, ours typically needs to be replaced every three years. We also deal with lots of clogged drains and poor water pressure. The minerals buildup in the pipes and restrict the flow of water. The hard water even affects our hair, skin and teeth. I have issues with psoriasis that I blame on the hardness of our water. We have tried several different types of water softeners and water filtration systems. None of them have proven successful.