Garden City, KS 67846
Email: lepg@sbcglobal.net
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available.
Hard water (over 15 to 30 grains per gallon) is a widespread problem in Kansas because soil and
rock at shallow depths typically contain calcium and magnesium. Water readily dissolves calcium
and magnesium from the soil and rocks.
Hardness minerals react with soaps and detergent to produce scum and deposits. These deposits
make unsightly rings in the bathtub and wash basin.
Hard water reacts with soaps and some detergents to form a sticky, gummy or chalky-looking film or
deposits on fixtures, clothes, skin and hair. Therefore, it takes more soap to get things clean.
Hard water also reduces the life of appliances, such as water heaters, dishwashers and water
pipes. When hard water is heated, it usually leaves a scale in the water heaters, hot water pipes
and on utensils. It also leaves "water spots" as water evaporates and the mineral is left behind.
The hardness minerals do give the water flavor, and they do not have any known adverse health
effects. They may even contribute to better cardiovascular health.
Water should be tested every three to five years for hardness, or when you suspect a change in
the hardness of your water.
OUR WATER SUPPLIES? HOW DO WE TEST FOR THIS?
to help detect chemicals in private water supplies.
Of 103 Wells surveyed, man-made chemicals were
detected in 10% of them. Eight wells had
detectable levels of pesticides and two wells had
detectable levels of volatile organic chemicals.
If you use a private well, the testing is up to you.
You should first test for bacteria and nitrate, the two
most common contaminants. These tests are less
expensive than tests for man-made chemicals, and
their results are food general indicators of the
vulnerability of you water supply to contamination.
If bacteria and nitrate levels are safe, your well is
structurally sound, and no chemical spills have
occurred near you well, the likelihood of finding
health-threatening levels of man-made chemicals in
your water is low.
want to test your water for the substances in
the spill. Tests for man-made chemicals are
expensive, so you will probably want to limit
your testing to just a few chemicals that are
likely to be present.
The Southwest Kansas Local Environmental
Planning Office can test domestic well water for
bacteria and nitrates as nitrogen. Tests for
sulfate, iron, pH and total dissolved solids
(TDS) can be done. For more extensive
testing a certified lab, like Servi-Tech, in
Dodge City would be suggested. There is a list
of certified labs on the Drinking Water page
under Testing to Help Insure Safe Drinking
Water, MF-951.
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agreement with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Watershed Management.