What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. While it’s not harmful to drink, hard water can cause issues like mineral buildup in pipes, reduced soap efficiency, and appliance wear. The hardness of water is typically measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or grains per gallon (gpg).

How Is Water Hardness Measured?

Grains Per Gallon (GPG)

This is the most common U.S. measurement. Water is generally considered hard if it has more than 7 grains per gallon.

Milligrams Per Liter (mg/L)

Also referred to as parts per million (ppm), anything above 120 mg/L is usually classified as hard.

 

Why Does Hard Water Vary by Region?

Water hardness is largely determined by the geological composition of the ground through which the water flows. States with abundant limestone and calcium-rich bedrock typically report higher hardness levels. Groundwater sources, which are more common in arid and semi-arid regions, also contribute to harder water.

 

States with the Hardest Water in the U.S.

Indiana

Cities like Indianapolis have some of the hardest water in the country, with levels exceeding 20 gpg in some areas.

Nevada

Las Vegas and surrounding regions experience extremely hard water due to mineral-rich aquifers and limited water sources.

Arizona

Arizona has widespread hard water issues, particularly in cities like Phoenix and Tucson.

Texas

Much of Texas has moderately to very hard water, especially in Central and West Texas.

Florida

While some coastal areas have slightly softer water, much of Florida deals with hard water due to its limestone aquifers.

Utah and New Mexico

Both states report significant water hardness due to geological conditions and reliance on groundwater.

 

How Hard Water Affects Homes and Businesses

Residential Impact

Hard water can lead to clogged pipes, spotty dishes, dingy laundry, and a reduced lifespan for water heaters and other appliances.

Industrial & Commercial Impact

In industries that rely on clean or soft water (e.g., food processing, pharmaceuticals, HVAC), hard water can lead to equipment inefficiencies, higher maintenance costs, and inconsistent product quality.

What Can Be Done About Hard Water?

Water Softening Solutions

Installing a water softener is the most common and effective way to deal with hard water. These systems replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium ions through ion exchange.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

For high-purity needs, reverse osmosis systems can remove a wider range of contaminants, including minerals that contribute to hardness.

 

How ADVANCEES Can Help

At ADVANCEES, we provide advanced water treatment systems designed to solve the challenges posed by hard water in both residential and industrial settings.

Commercial and Industrial Reverse Osmosis Systems

Our Commercial SWRO Systems and Brackish Water RO Systems are engineered to reduce high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), including the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness. These systems are ideal for businesses in hard water zones that require high-purity water for production, cleaning, or processing.

Ion Exchange Water Softeners

For direct removal of calcium and magnesium, our ion exchange-based softening systems are highly effective. They are suitable for both light commercial and industrial applications where scale prevention and appliance protection are critical. These systems replace hardness ions with sodium or potassium ions to deliver soft, usable water.

Containerized Water Treatment Units

In areas where mobility and rapid deployment are necessary—such as construction sites or remote operations—we offer Containerized RO Systems that are pre-engineered and ready to install. These can be configured with softening or filtration pre-treatments for hard water scenarios.

Custom Solutions with Pre-Treatment Integration

Every region’s water profile is unique. Our team can design complete systems that integrate pre-treatment like multimedia filtration, antiscalant dosing, and softening to extend membrane life and improve overall performance. Whether you’re managing groundwater with extreme hardness or scaling issues in municipal systems, our engineers will configure a solution tailored to your specific water chemistry.