Did you know there are two types of water?

That's right - tap water can be classified as either 'hard' or 'soft' depending on the amount of natural minerals it contains. But which is better we hear you cry!

The answer is neither, or both, depending on how you look at it. Each comes with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here's a handy guide to water hardness, and how to tell if you have hard or soft water.

Hard water

Water hardness is measured by minerals in ppm (parts per million). If water has 100ppm or higher, it’s officially classified as hard water.

Hard water contains higher levels of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals than soft water. It occurs when rainwater falls into soil, lakes, and rivers, where the bedrock and surrounding environment consist of limestone and chalk deposits- meaning these minerals naturally filter into the water. For example, the South-East of England has the hardest water in the country, as the region is mainly made up of limestone and chalk.

The good news is consuming calcium and magnesium through hard water can help protect your heart and bones – for example, calcium helps prevent osteoporosis. The trade off is that higher minerals can dry out hair and skin, because it leaves behind a film-like residue that can cause skin irritation and dryness.

Due to its high concentration of minerals,hard water can cause problems with plumbing and appliances, causing limescale and leaving deposits in pipes which can lead to clogging.

Soft water

Soft water is low in the minerals (especially calcium) that hard water in abundant in, but has a higher sodium content.

It comes from rainwater, glaciers, icebergs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams or it can be created through water treatment. Because it’s low in minerals, soft water has a tendency to pull in minerals where it can, which means that other contaminants get pulled in as well.

The main advantage of soft water is that it causes less damage to your appliances due to a low mineral composition. It’s also gentler on hair and skin - meaning it is less likely to cause dryness and irritation.

Other soft water benefits include better washing (due to water rinsing away without residue), and improved efficiency of cleaning products. It is also less corrosive than hard water.

However, soft water doesn't offers the additional health benefits of hard water.

How can I tell what kind of water I have?

It's usually easy to spot hard water. Due to the high mineral content hard water can look cloudy and leave those tell-tale streaks on showers, glasses and dishes. Meanwhile soft water is likely to leave your skin feeling 'slippery' after washing as it doesn't leave a mineral residue on your skin.