What Is Hard Water and What Impact Does It Have on Homes and Families?

A Look at Hard Water Across the United States

Caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium, hard water minerals are more abundant in some geographic areas than others. The likelihood that you live in a state or city with hard water is high. However, you may not realize your water is hard because the effects often accumulate slowly.

If you aren’t sure what signs to look for, EcoPure is here to help. About 85% of homes in the United States experience hard water symptoms, which can cause:

  • Dry, itchy skin and scalp
  • Greasy, brittle hair
  • Spotted glassware and dishes
  • Poor soap lather
  • Linens and towels that are scratchy and stiff
  • Scale buildup on and around fixtures
  • Decreased water pressure
  • More frequent water-using appliance breakdowns

How to Fix Hard Water Problems

Designed to last 10 or more years — based on your area’s water hardness and how well you maintain your system — water softeners are the simplest, most economical way to get soft water for you and your family.

Interested in how they function? Explore how a water softener can provide soft water throughout your home. EcoPure water softeners are designed, manufactured and assembled in the United States. Each system is backed by 100 years of innovation, a comprehensive warranty and third-party certifications to ensure they do the intended job.

United States Water Hardness Map

The following hard water map illustrates the varying zones of hardness across the country. Explore your area to find out how hard your water is.

Map Summary

This map displays hard water measured in grains per gallon across the United States. The higher the grains per gallon, the harder the water. As you can see, with the exception of the Pacific Northwest, parts of the South and the Northeast, most of the continental United States has hard water.

American Cities With Hard Water

  • Austin, TX
  • Chicago, IL
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • San Antonio, TX
  • San Jose, CA
  • Tampa, FL

Did You Know?

Ancient seabeds used to cover much of the United States, leaving high concentrations of limestone in the hard to extremely hard regions.

85% of people have hard water. 30% of these people use a water softener.

Want to learn more? Watch this video:

Audio: When making home improvements, a water softener is a pretty easy appliance to overlook.
Visual: Blue title screen with clouds with the title ”Signs You Need a New Softener” with warning sign and EcoPure logo

Audio: Unless the color of it mimics something from
Visual: Three different sized green softeners on the left side of screen.

Audio: the disco era, it’s tough to tell when it’s time for an upgrade.
Visual: Three different sized green softeners on the left side of screen and green blouse on the right side of screen.

Audio: A water softener starts declining with constant use typically after 10 years.
Visual: Three different sized green softeners on the left side of screen and calendar flipping through the years on the right side of screen.

Audio: Let’s look at how you can tell that your system needs an upgrade. The first sign, despite your best efforts to maintain the system,
Visual: Gray slide with number one and the title “Age of Softener”.

Audio: all you get are the spotty dishes, dry itchy skin and stubborn soap scum in your tub at this point.
Visual: Triangle image containing three different icons. Icon of dirty dishes with title “Spotty Dishes,” icon of a sad woman touching her face with the title “dry itchy skin,” an icon of a tub with the title “stubborn soap scum”.

Audio: The system may no longer be regenerating or functioning properly and age may be the culprit.
Visual: Image of a green water softener with cobwebs.

Audio: Another sign is that you have a timer-based water softener.
Visual: Gray slide with number two and the title “Regeneration Style”.

Audio: These regenerate on a schedule you set.
Visual: Image of a green water softener with the water level dropping with an enlarged image of a water softener timer.

Audio: The problem: Your water use can vary, making your regeneration schedule inaccurate.
Visual:  Image of a green water softener with flashing red, low water section with an enlarged image of a water softener timer.

Audio: The latest
Visual:  Image of a green water softener with the water level rising with an enlarged image of water softener timer.

Audio: softeners are demanded-initiated and use software and sensors within the system to monitor water usage. This is ideal because it works on an as-needed basis, saving energy, water and salt use.
Visual: Image of a water softener with rising and lowering water levels.

Audio: The last sign is that your system is bulky and lacks some important features.
Visual: Gray slide with number three and the title “Low-Performance Capabilities”.

Audio: Take a look at your softener style if you have a twin tank system. Your softener is likely taking up extra room a single cabinet.
Visual: Image of a green water softener with arrows pointing to the title “Twin Tank”.

Audio: Style softener is demand initiated and requires less space making it an efficient option for your home.
Visual: Image of white cabinet style water softener.

Audio: And how about those special features? Newer systems include low salt indicators enhanced iron removal and water use monitoring making maintenance and management a breeze if you’ve
Visual: Image of a side by side comparison of the green water softener and the white cabinet style water softener. White water softener is displaying three images on screen. Displaying “no salt,” FE with a line through the letters, and line of alternating size bars.

Audio: decided that it’s time to go out with the old and in with the new.
Visual: Image of white cabinet style water softener.