Hard water is a problem for most residents of the United Kingdom. Hard water is water that contains a high level of dissolved minerals and ions, the most troublesome of which are calcium and magnesium. Water is made hard when rain water falls on land that contains high levels of minerals. The water picks up the minerals as it seeps through the ground and into the water table. Water that falls on ground that is made up mostly of hard rock or peaty soil is less likely to pick up minerals or other elements and will stay "soft."

The problems caused by hard water are caused by the minerals that build up in the piping of your home and on the inside of your home appliances or other types of machines that use water on a regular basis. This "scale" decreases the efficiency of the pipes, appliances and machines and eventually they stop working properly.

The minerals also counter-act the natural lathering action of most soap, which means that keeping your house, clothing and body clean becomes very difficult. The extra work that your household machines and appliances have to do can mean an increased energy and water bill. As the mineral scale builds up in the pipes, the pipes need replacing and this can also be a costly endeavour.

A large portion of the UK population has found that the installation of a water softener is the best way to combat the effects of hard water. A water softener is a machine that filters your home's water as it flows from the ground water or well supply and into your home. It has special filters built into it that help it "strain out" most of the minerals that are found in hard water.

Some water softener manufacturers include filters that will filter out other things as well as hard water minerals, creating a soft water that is easy to wash and clean with and won't build up mineral scale on your home's pipes.

Depending on the minerals and ions that are contained in the hard water in your local area, your hard water could be dangerous both for your house and your body. Calcium and Magnesium are the most feared ions because they can cause terrible health problems when too much of either is absorbed into the body.

Most plumbing leaks are caused by mineral scale that has been building up in a home's plumbing system without being checked. The repair costs for this can be quite expensive so it is important to check your hard water build up regularly!