No, soft water is not hard. Water hardness is determined by the concentration of minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium, present in the water. Soft water contains fewer of these minerals.
According to the reference provided, water is categorized as "soft" when it has less than 17 parts per million (ppm) of calcium and magnesium. The scale progresses as follows:
| Water Hardness | Parts Per Million (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Soft | Less than 17 |
| Slightly Hard | 17 to 60 |
| Moderately Hard | 60 to 120 |
Therefore, if water falls within the "soft" category (less than 17 ppm), it is, by definition, not considered hard.
