How soft is your water?

[kc7jty]

The well water is supposed to be a little towards hard from the middle mark here. Maybe 60% hard.
When I was using the surface water in PA it seemed like just a tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent would make way too much suds. Here I have to use 2 whole measuring caps.

The water here is loaded with calcium, magnesium, and some salts. I only drink it when I'm working in the yard, all dirty, and just take some hand scoops from the outside faucet.

The Glacier Water vending machine at my favorite supermarket gets lots of my change @ 35c/gal.

[KG4CGC]

Give me a minute. I'll give you a reading from my aquarium test strips.
Hardness: less than 35 GH ppm.
Alkalinity: 80KH ppm.
PH: 6.8

[kc7jty]

91-154 mg/L

http://www.fcwa.org/water/hardness.htm

[NQ6U]

Most of the water down here on the Islets of Langerhans comes from the Colorado River, which got it's name ("colored" in Spanish) because of the suspended sediments in it. Not surprisingly, it's about as soft as a chunk of granite.

[kc7jty]

I spent years of accumulated time in Yuma which gets it's water from the Colorado. It is loaded with chlorine and isn't quite as hard as the well water here.

[N9FE]

Calcium and iron are the two things here. Some areas on the state you need no softener. Some.. The pipes clog so fast you here em tighten up. We are still very very lucky to live in a water rich state.

[W5GA]

The water here is usually hard as a rock. One of the things that can be entrained in our water is natural gas, which can make for a pretty exciting fireworks display in the well house if it's not vented properly.

[W7XF]

The tap water in the Tucson metro meets or exceeds California earthquake standards for structural soundness. Pipes last 5-10 years max. Water heaters last 3-5 years max.

[W5GA]

Water heaters last 3-5 years max.

It'll last longer if you replace the zinc anode in it every 2-3 years.

[W1GUH]

Speaking of detergent suds, don't ever, ever, ever put regular sink-type detergent in a dishwasher!