Is hardwater good for you?

Is hardwater good for you?

Water is literally the stuff of life. The human body is made up of around 60 per cent water which bathes every cell, allowing waste products to be flushed away, regulating body temperature, transportation of nutrients and aiding digestion. But all water is not the same.

Water quality reports from 2021 showed that tap water in England was markedly harder than in Scotland, which overall had the softest tap water with the lowest mineral content in the United Kingdom. Within England, the North West had the softest tap water, while the South East had the hardest water. All tap water contains sterilising additives like chlorine, which help to kill microbes, and many contain trace amounts of contaminants including copper, leached rom pipes and plumbing fittings, and even microplastics.

So does it make any difference what kind of water you drink, or is it really just a matter of taste?
In fact, studies do show that there may be health benefits and risks associated with your drinking water. A new study published in the latest issue [January 2025) of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety found there was a link to drinking hard water and having an increased risk of developing dementia in old age. Researchers from China luted data from 397,265 participants from the UK Biobank to investigate the associations of water hardness with neurodegenerative diseases. They found that drinking hard water regularly from the local supply (over 120 mg/L) was related to 13 per cent elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the study has been described as ‘poorly conducted’ by experts.

Why are scientists looking at this issue now?

A growing number of studies are suggesting that there may be a link between different types of water and health outcomes. In some cases, hard water, which contains more minerals, appears to have a protective effect against disease. In other cases, as in the recent China study linking dementia to drinking hard water, it appears to have a negative effect on health.

What’s the difference between hard and soft water?

Hard water contains dissolved minerals such as magnesium, iron and manganese. Soft water contains lower concentrations of these minerals because it has not been exposed to rocks containing these minerals for a long period of time, so it is typically sourced from rivers, streams and lakes.

The taste and odour of hard water may be different to that of soft water. Some people say hard water leaves a chalky taste, or even tastes slightly bitter, depending on where it comes from. According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate: ‘Hard water produces less lather from soap, washing up liquid and washing powders. It also leaves ‘tide marks’ on basins, sinks, baths and toilets and a scum on the surface of hot drinks, especially tea brewed in the cup with a teabag (due to the air and oils in the tea).’

How can I tell if I live in a hard or soft water area?

The key thing to look out for is the typical scaling on kettles, pipes and water heaters which are caused by dissolved minerals precipitating out of the solution over time. Carbonate hardness is sometimes called temporary hardness because it can be removed by boiling water.

With its high mineral content, hard water can appear cloudy straight out of the tap before clearing. The DWI has published a detailed map of England and Wales which shows the areas which have hard and soft water.

Should I take protective steps if the water is soft?

The water in hard water areas is a good source of dietary calcium, which helps build string bones and teeth, and magnesium, which helps the body use calcium and Vitamin D. According to diet advice from the dietician team at the Royal United Hospital Bath.

‘You should be able to get all the calcium you need by eating a healthy balanced diet. If you need additional calcium the richest calcium containing foods are dairy products, so the easiest way to get more calcium is to include more of these in your diet.’
However, but Cecilie Dahl, associate professor at the Department of Public Health Science at the Institute of Health and Society at the University of Oslo says that both men and women at risk of osteoporosis should take supplements if they live in a soft water area. This is because her research suggests higher levels of certain minerals in hard water, particularly magnesium, may be associated with a reduced risk of fractures. ‘In our study conducted on a Norwegian cohort, men and women in the highest third of magnesium concentrations in drinking water had a reduced relative risk of hip fractures, respectively, compared to those in the lowest third.’

‘Magnesium appears to play a significant role in the observed protective effects. While the contribution of magnesium from drinking water to overall dietary intake is small (approximately 0.2% for men and 0.3% for women in our study), its bioavailability in water is typically higher compared to food sources. Additionally drinking water is something you ingest throughout life, and in food. Drinking hard water could help you reach peak bone mass when you are young, which may impact your fracture risk later in life when you start losing bone. This may explain why even small amounts can have measurable health benefits. And keep in mind that this was a very large study covering the entire population. With small associations, we need large studies, and small effects may have a public health impact because they are applied to the entire population. She says that calcium is also important for maintaining bone health.

‘However, the impact of calcium from water was less pronounced in that study, probably because the Norwegian diet already provides enough calcium for most people. Other studies suggest that calcium in hard water could also play a beneficial role in reducing fracture risk, particularly in populations with lower dietary calcium intake.’ She advises those living in soft water areas that ‘maintaining an adequate magnesium and calcium intake through dietary sources or supplements is essential. Foods rich in magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables, are excellent options. Calcium
can be obtained from dairy products, fortified foods, or supplements if dietary intake is insufficient.

It is theoretically possible to increase the mineral content of drinking water by adding mineral supplements; however, this is not a common practice (and often expensive), and it’s generally easier and more practical to address these needs through diet and supplements.’

Is there any link between water type and digestive complaints, including IBS?

Magnesium combined with calcium in hard water may have a laxative effect which can help ease constipation – a problem linked to inflammatory bowel conditions. In one study, published in the August 2013 issue of the International Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers reported that hard water could provide potentially alleviating effects on the
onset of constipation in the 85 per cent cases. ‘A rich union of calcium and magnesium in hard water, in a right combination, helps to combat constipation. The calcium in hard water results in teaming up with excess bile and its resident fats to lather up the soap like insoluble substance, which is emitted from the body during bowel movements,’ said
the author, Pallav Sengupta, from the department of physiology at the University of Calcutta.

According to the NHS online guidance, people with IBS should ‘drink plenty of water to help make your poo softer and increase how much soluble fibre you eat – good foods include oats, pulses, carrots, peeled potatoes and linseeds (whole or ground).’

Can hard water cause urological problems including kidney stones?

Dehydration, not drinking enough water, may raise the risk of kidney stones, but it is less clear whether drinking hard water makes any difference. According to the Urology Foundation, Kidney stones are relatively common – affecting about 1 in 10 people in the UK. Kidney stones are more likely to develop in men than women and typically affect people aged 30-60.
Kidney stones form when minerals and salts in the urine combine to create hard deposits inside the kidney. For instance, calcium stones — the most common type of kidney stone — are typically composed of calcium and oxalate, a chemical that the body makes, that has lodged in kidney tissue.

Chris Eden, professor of Urology and Consultant Urologist at London Bridge Hospital, said that this was not a link for most people. ‘Drinking hard water or eating calcium-rich foods such as cheese and nuts only increases the risk of urinary tract stones if you excrete abnormally high levels of calcium in your urine (calciuria). Even then, most (80%) stones are calcium oxalate and similarly stone formation is only a problem in patients with abnormally high urinary oxalate
excretion (oxaluria). So, in short, hard water only increases stone formation in those with a genetic disposition that causes the kidneys to excrete too much calcium, oxalate, or both.’

Should I install a water softening system?

If you live in a hard water area, then a softener can improve the efficiency and increase the life of domestic appliances because it reduces limescale build up and also makes lathering easier. However, it is not recommended for the water you intend to drink.

According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate. ‘If you do install a water softener, it is very important that you make sure that it is correctly installed, and you do not soften the water to the tap in your kitchen which is used for drinking and cooking. This is because most water softeners work by replacing the hardness with sodium. Too much sodium can be a problem for premature babies because their kidneys are not good at filtering it out of the blood, and for people who are on a low sodium (low salt) diet. Artificially softened water may also be aggressive to plumbing causing leaching of copper and lead.’

Should I use a water filter?

According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate, water filter jugs are good at improving the taste and smell of tap water. ‘Some consumers dislike the taste of tap water. This is especially so when living somewhere different from where you grew up as a child. Removing objectionable tastes and odours is the most common reason for purchasing a water filter. When choosing a filter for this purpose ensure it contains activated carbon and change the filter cartridge regularly or it will
cease to be effective.’

According to Consumer Reports in the US: ‘To be clear, the water filter pitchers we test are intended to be used with potable water—that is, water that’s safe to drink—to improve taste and remove unpleasant odours. A common complaint about tap water is that it smells or tastes bad. And this is where water filter pitchers tend to excel.’ Calcium and magnesium carbonates and bicarbonates can be removed from the water by boiling, forming scale. ‘Before decided to purchase a carbon filter, be aware that a more cost-effective solution is to store a covered jug of drinking water in the refrigerator.

Studies have shown that most consumers are unable to distinguish chilled tap water from bottled mineral water.’ According to Brita, standard filters work like a sieve, using carbon to lower mercury content and reduce the taste and smell of chlorine. Brita filters also contain an ion-exchange resin to filter zinc, copper, and cadmium. These filters have pores that control which components get through. According to the Brita website. ‘Yes, minerals can pass through BRITA MicroDisc water filters. The filters are designed to filter out unwanted substances (e.g. chlorine, micro-particles and trace
impurities) while allowing minerals (e.g. calcium and magnesium) to pass through.’

What about the filters that can be fixed to taps and shower heads?

If you have sensitive skin or want to wash your hair in soft water, water filters that fit on you shower head, or all-in-one shower filters, can remove some impurities and particles, such as chlorine, but it is less effective at removing excess minerals that cause hard water. You need to replace the filter on shower heads every three to six months
depending on the number of people using the shower and the quality of the water.

A major review of the scientific evidence by the World Health Organization in 2019 and 2020 concluded there was still too little research o determine if consuming or inhaling microplastics posed a risk to human health. It did warn, however, that the smallest fragments – measuring less than 10 micrometres in size – are likely to be taken up biologically and the WHO has called for a reduction in plastic pollution to reduce human exposure.