According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate,
approximately 60% of UK households do not have soft water. Filled with
calcium and magnesium, it stains basins, leaves limescale in kettles
and discolours laundry. With no soft water flowing through pipes and
out of the tap, it is important to understand the health effects of
hard water.
The National Research Council (NRC) states that
drinking hard water does not pose health risks. Although hard water is
generally safe for drinking, the NRC recommends more studies to uncover
the correlation between other health issues and not soft water.
The
NRC notes a 2007 study that recognises a link between hard water and
eczema in young children. Eczema is a non-contagious condition,
resulting in severe dryness, itching and rashes on the skin.
Researchers in Nottingham studied primary school children and found
that bathing in hard water exacerbated their eczema. Authors of the
study are unsure if the skin irritants were the calcium and magnesium
or the extra soap and shampoos needed to build lather in such water.
This
kind of water certainly does not cause skin conditions, like eczema,
but its effects can cause increased irritation to sensitive skin.
Finding relief hasn't been easy for those with skin conditions, but
continual medical research can provide a solution to soothe the
discomfort of sufferers. Although the actual reason for increased
irritation of the skin is unclear, what is clear is that not soft water
affects sensitive skin. It is possible to address this water problem in
your home, and water softener could offer the help you need.
