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What is the difference between hard and soft water?
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| Put quite simply, hard water has more minerals in it than soft water. Calcium carbonate is the mineral most commonly associated with water hardness. This is the same mineral found in many calcium supplements sold at your local drug store. The calcium in hard water is responsible for the spots you may find on your dishes after washing and allowing them to air-dry and reduces the “sudsing” ability of soap. |
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What is the white residue I find at the bottom of my pots and tea kettle, and around my faucet fixtures? What can I do to get rid of it?
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The white residue is calcium carbonate. There are cleaning products on the market made specifically for its removal. A “green” alternative for removing hardness residue is warm vinegar. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to the tea kettle or pot, fill with water, and let sit overnight. Persistent residue can be removed by warming vinegar in the kettle or pot, cooling, and rinsing well afterwards. Further information regarding removing calcium carbonate residue can be found by following these links:
www.vinegartips.com
www.cleaningwithvinegar.com
http://home.howstuffworks.com/uses-for-vinegar-cleaning-your-kitchen-ga.htm |
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Is calcium carbonate bad for me?
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| No. Calcium carbonate is an essential nutrient that is used by your body to fortify bones and teeth. It also helps your muscles to function properly. |
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How hard is my water?
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The hardness of your water is determined by which production facility supplies your drinking water.
• If you live in the Warm Springs, Irvington, or Mission San Jose districts of Fremont, your water comes from one of our two water treatment plants which purify water arriving from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The hardness of this water ranges from 4 to 8 grains per gallon (74 to 130 milligrams per liter).
• If you live in north Fremont or Union City, your water comes from our blending facility, which blends harder local groundwater with softer Hetch Hetchy water. The blending process, which began in 1992, reduces the hardness of our groundwater by up to 40%. The hardness of blended water ranges from 9 to 13 grains per gallon (160 to 230 milligrams per liter).
• If you live in Newark, your water comes from the Newark Desalination Facility, which removes salts and other minerals from brackish groundwater. The hardness of desalinated water ranges from 3 to 5 grains per gallon (46 to 80 milligrams per liter).
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