How Does Calcium Affect Water?
Calcium significantly impacts water quality, primarily by contributing to water hardness. High calcium levels result in "hard water," which has several noticeable effects on both household appliances and the environment.
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Hard Water: High concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions are the defining characteristic of hard water. As noted in several sources, including the Vermont Department of Health (https://www.healthvermont.gov/environment/drinking-water/hardness-drinking-water) and the USGS (https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/hardness-water), this hardness leads to several issues.
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Household Impacts: Hard water causes the formation of whitish-gray scale on shower doors, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen appliances. It also reduces the effectiveness of soap, leading to higher consumption and dingy-looking laundry. The MN Department of Health (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/softening.html) explains that these mineral deposits can accumulate in plumbing systems.
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Environmental Impacts: The Lenntech website (https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/calcium/calcium-and-water.htm) highlights that in limed soils, high calcium can immobilize iron, potentially causing iron deficiencies in plants even if iron is present in the soil. Moreover, the Smithsonian Ocean (https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/ocean-acidification) explains that increased calcium carbonate solubility in more acidic seawater affects marine life.
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Health Effects: While the McGill Office for Science and Society (https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-you-asked/you-asked-hard-water-dangerous-drink) and a study published in PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3775162/) discuss the health effects of hard water, they mainly focus on the effects of dissolved salts, including calcium and magnesium. Generally, the health impacts are considered minimal for most people. However, it's important to note that excessively high calcium intake, especially when combined with certain medications like thiazide diuretics, can pose health risks as per Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/calcium-supplements/faq-20058266).
In summary: Calcium in water, particularly at high concentrations, leads to hard water, causing various issues in households and impacting the environment. While generally safe to drink, excessive amounts can interact negatively with some medications.
