East Orange Water

The water in East Orange is very hard.

East Orange Grains per Gallon (GPG)

• East Orange, 19 GPG or 328 PPM (parts per million)

Advantages of Using Hard Water

Historically, water was hardened to raise the pH (acid level) to reduce the leaching of lead from lead pipes, which could cause lead poisoning. The advantage of drinking hard water is that it will supply calcium in the form of calcium carbonate (chalk), which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In order to be able to absorb it, however, you will need to have a good supply of natural vitamin D in your diet.

Lessen the Effects of Hard Water at Home

• Laundry: According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, a powdered detergent with phosphate will perform well in hard water as will any of the liquid laundry detergents.
• Dishwasher: Hard water will probably cause more spotting and filming on your dishes. This is because the minerals in hard water are released faster when the water comes in contact with heat, such as the heating element in your hot water heater or dishwasher. Here are some things you can do to reduce spotting and filming.
  • Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater
  • For every degree or setting that you decrease your hot water heater, you decrease the mount of mineral spotting or    filming on your dishware.
  • Detergent Selection: According to the national Soap and Detergent Association you should start with the manufacturers’ recommended amount of detergent and increase by one tablespoon at a time until you achieve the desired cleaning & spot prevention. Read the labels of products and experiment to find which works best for you

• Coffee maker: There are products on the market that will remove mineral buildup from your drip coffee maker or you can run a pot of strong vinegar water through your coffee maker on occasion. Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Tile, ceramic, and metal: Mineral buildup on tile, ceramic and metal surfaces such as shower heads, sinks, bathtubs, faucet fixtures, and swimming pools will simply require more attention to keep water spotting and filming to a minimum. With most cleaning products, following the manufacturer’s instructions will get the desired results. For heavy scale buildup on tile, ceramics, and porcelain, a pumice stone works nicely.
• Household plumbing: The calcium in hard water can create a thin coating on the inside of your pipes. If your home has lead or copper pipes or pipes with lead solder this coating has a beneficial effect by preventing lead and copper from leaching into your home’s water supply. Mineral buildup in sink aerators may restrict water flow. Simply remove the aerator, clean it with vinegar, and replace.