it depends where you live within the country. it is often that the southern parts of the UK has very hard water. this is due to the process that the water goes through. if it goes through a lot of processing, it causes the water to become harder.
hope this helps :)
Hardness in groundwater could simply be treated by Heating the water to a considerable temperature. Chlorination and Distillation could also be applied to groundwater hardness treatment.
In general, the hardness of municipal water has little effect on the color of hair dye or on how long it lasts.
When calcium and magnesium build up in our water, it tends to make the water "hard." A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium and replaces it with sodium, which reduces the waters hardness. Metal ions, such as calcium and magnesium, that build up in water can react with soaps or detergents, creating a hardening effect of the water. This limits the cleaning effect of some soaps and can create build up in pipes. A water softener sends the water through an ionic exchange, where the hardness ions are replaced by sodium ions, reducing the hardness effect.
Water hardness has a direct effect on floaters. ie the harder the water the more animals can float on it.
The calcium reacts with the water, producing calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Ca+ 2H2O --> Ca(OH)2 + H2
Magnesium sulfate (MgSo4) does not cause hardness of water.
Salt is sometimes used to remove water hardness. Borax and soda are generally used as well to remove water hardness.
Temporary hardness of water: CaHCO3, MgHCO3 Permanent hardness of water: CaSO4, MgSO4
The water supplier can provide you the details on hardness level if you are on municipal water systems, If you are using private water then you can get tested in laboratories. You can even measure it with water hardness testing kits which you need to purchase.
Hardness in water is usually characterised as temporary or permanent. Both are due to the presence of calcium or magnesium ions. If they are present as the hydrogen carbonate, when the water is boiled this is converted to the carbonate which precipitates out as a solid, leaving water which is no longer hard, so this is called temporary hardness. If they are present as the sulfate the solution is unaffected by boiling, and this is called permanent hardness.
The hardness of water depends primarily on the concentration and chemical identities of the metal cations dissolved in the water. The non metal ions dissolved in the water have little effect unless the particular ions are capable of forming coordinate covalent bonds to the metal ions.
There are two ways to help control water hardness: use a packaged water softener or use a mechanical water softening unit. Packaged water softeners are chemicals that help control water hardness.