3 Harmful Effects of Drinking Hard Water (& What to Do About It)
Updated May 22, 2024.
Hard water is a problem in many households. You might have noticed those unsightly stains on your taps or shower walls—an obvious sign that your water is "hard." But what does that mean exactly?
In essence, hard water is water with an unusually high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals get dissolved in water as it makes its journey from sources like lakes, wells, and pipes to your tap. Even after water treatment, it can enter your water supply naturally or through aging infrastructure. Hard water can corrode your plumbing, and it may even cause health risks.
Drinking hard water has been associated with digestive problems, kidney stones, and nervous system issues.
1. Digestive Issues
One of the most common health consequences of drinking hard water is digestive problems. Studies have found that long-term consumption of hard water can lead to various gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, IBS, and other symptoms.
It's well documented that high levels of calcium and magnesium can be difficult to digest, and since hard water contains especially large amounts of these minerals, it can wreak havoc on your gut health.
Additionally, drinking it regularly for a long time may cause the body to become intolerant to these minerals, resulting in stomach problems in the long run.
» Learn how to make structured water
2. Kidney Stones
Another health concern associated with hard water is the increased risk of kidney stones. Kidney stones can occur as a result of a poor diet, but there are also links to hard water consumption.
As mentioned before, hard water contains a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which increased the risk of kidney stones. When urine contains too much calcium or other crystal-forming minerals, our bodies are unable to dilute them, forming these hard deposits. They can be painful to expel from the body, and sufferers experience unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and blood in the urine.
3. Nervous System Problems
Areas where hard water is more prevalent have been found to have higher rates of nervous system issues. Hard water often contains more contaminants like industrial waste and arsenic, which can be very harmful to the nervous system.
The high mineral content of hard water can interrupt the body's ability to transmit messages between nerve cells, which over time, can result in a number of problems such as fatigue, headaches, and possibly even impaired cognitive function.
How to Get Rid of Hard Water
Fortunately, there are a few treatments available to help reduce water hardness, including reverse osmosis and water softeners.
Reverse osmosis is a common water treatment technique that reverses the natural osmosis process. It's an effective method that is becoming increasingly popular in both residential and industrial settings. In this method, water moves through a membrane from a highly concentrated solution to a dilute one. This successfully eliminates toxins and impurities from the water, ensuring that it is safe for human consumption.
The reverse osmosis membranes are meant to filter out any particles in the water and offer clean, pure drinking water. Furthermore, reverse osmosis uses extremely little energy, making it a cost-effective choice for water purification.
Reverse osmosis is highly effective as it:
- Removes minerals - Removing minerals such as calcium and magnesium from water is beneficial for health, as these minerals in excess can be harmful.
- Softens water - Softening water also has other advantages, such as being better for cooking and washing hair.
- Filters out pollutants and chemical contaminants - Reverse osmosis also filter out pollutants and contaminants, including lead, copper, chromium, and bacteria, that can all cause health issues if present in drinking water.
Balance Your Water With Mayu
Reverse osmosis is great for softening hard water and giving you clean, pure drinking water. However, while it removes contaminants, unfortunately, it also strips beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium from the water.
To remineralize your water, try the MAYU Swirl and Essential Mineral Drops. The MAYU Swirl adds essential minerals back into your drinking water, and the Essential Mineral Drops provide additional vitamins and minerals for a better taste.
