Calcium

High levels of Calcium will contribute to hard water challenges. Safe Home offers several kits that provide drinking water testing for calcium in city water and well water supplies.

Parameter Type: Drinking Water Testing for Metals

Parameter Name: Calcium

What it is and Where it Comes From:

Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to its heavier homologues strontium and barium. It is the fifth most abundant element in Earth’s crust, and the third most abundant metal, after iron and aluminum. Calcium in water is of particular importance because it affects the water’s ability to function in our homes. Calcium in water makes our water hard. Calcium in water can build up in pipes, reducing flow to taps and appliances. In water heaters, these minerals generate a scale buildup that reduces the efficiency and life of the heater. Drinking water testing gives you several benefits like peace of mind, identifying contaminants in your water, and insight into health concerns. Safe Home offers Laboratory drinking water testing kits for calcium, allowing you to collect your water sample and ship it directly to our EPA-Certified Laboratory. This platform of drinking water testing for calcium will give you an accurate level based on the lowest level of a parameter our instruments can detect (Method Detection Level). Safe Home drinking water testing for heavy metals can be used for city and well water supplies. Drinking water testing should be done any time you notice a significant change in your water quality.

Health Effects:

Studies have generally found hard water to have positive effects on the health of its drinkers. Several studies have reported that calcium and magnesium in drinking water have a dose-dependent protective effect when it comes to cardiovascular disease. There is also some evidence that calcium and magnesium in drinking water may help protect against gastric, colon, rectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer, and that magnesium may help protect against esophageal and ovarian cancer. Hard water may also serve a protective role against atherosclerosis in children and teens.

Solutions to Contaminant Levels:

Once you have completed the drinking water testing process, how can the issue be solved? There are several ways that water is softened, but most methods are used industrially or commercially. his is achieved by attaching a water softening device directly to your supply. These containers hold ion-exchange resin or beads that switch out hard molecules for soft ones. In this process, calcium and magnesium are replaced with sodium and sometimes (but rarely) potassium. Calcium hydroxide is a powder used to treat and prepare water, food, and paper. It purifies water and is used to raise the alkalinity of freshwater to prevent rust. Distillation is an effective but expensive method of water softening. As water is heated, it evaporates and leaves hard water ions behind. The only problem is that the energy required to maintain the soft water result is not worth it in a residential context. Chelators molecules that easily bind to metal molecules can remove calcium and magnesium from water. These substances are commercially added to cleaning products, like shampoos, soaps, and detergents. Though they are prominent in their respective industries, they have an environmental impact, and so are losing favor as water softeners. Reverse osmosis uses controlled pressure to isolate hard water ions. Purified water is then pushed through a filter, leaving calcium and magnesium behind. An advantage of this method is that it does not replace hard water ions with new molecules. A drawback is that reverse osmosis machines need regular maintenance, or else they will lose their effect. There are many reasons you may want to soften your water supply. Whether it is for grooming, your household, or protecting your clothes or kitchenware, you can try a few methods at home. The simplest and most convenient method to soften your water is to use a water filter. Most use activated carbon to absorb and trap contaminants. They can filter an array of impurities, from chlorine to heavy metals. You will have to spend a bit of money on a filter, and they require installation. Their biggest benefit is that they do not only soften your supply, but they also clean it too. This is an example of reverse osmosis. A water softener gives you the same effect as chemical treatment, without adding harmful substances to your supply. It is a device that replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium to change the structure of your water. Once this exchange takes place, the softener will filter out calcium and other impurities. You are left with cleaner, soft water, and there is no effort on your part. These machines are the popular choice in ion exchange. Heat will separate the minerals from water. Traces of calcium and other impurities will settle at the bottom of your container and are easily removed with a strainer. This method might require the least thought, but it is not effective on a larger scale. The upsides are that no chemicals or devices are necessary, and it leaves your water safe for all uses as well as ingestion. It is distillation, so keep in mind that while it is highly effective, it might cost you. Who do I need to contact to find out more information about water quality in my area? Every community water supplier must provide an annual report to its customers, known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The report provides information on your local drinking water quality, including the water’s source, contaminants found in the water, and how consumers can get involved in protecting drinking water. How often does the local public water system preform drinking water testing? Frequency of drinking water testing depends on the number of people served, the type of water source, and types of contaminants. Certain contaminants are tested more frequently than others, as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act. You can find out about levels of regulated contaminants in your treated water for the previous calendar year in your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

MCL’s: NONE
MCLG’s: NONE

File Under:

Drinking Water Testing - Parameter Types

[parameter_taxonomy_list]

Important Terms

  • MCL’s (Maximum Contaminant Levels) MCL’s are levels that set by the USEPA and are enforceable to Public Water Utilities, requiring additional treatment, when the levels are exceeded. These same guidelines should be at least considered, by owners of private wells. Some states have more strict guidelines than the USEPA. Not all parameters have MCL’s. If the parameter has an MCL, it’s listed.
  • MCLG’s (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals) MCLG’s are goals set by the USEPA that we should all strive for when consuming drinking water from any water supply. Concentrations of certain parameters (even below the MCL’s), are still not healthy for humans and animals to drink. These same guidelines should at least be be considered, by owners of private wells. Some states have more strict guidelines than the USEPA. Not all parameters have MCLG’s. If the parameter has an MCLG, it’s listed.
  • ACTION LEVELS ACTION LEVELS are a specified concentration of a respective parameter in drinking water, that is above a “treatment level” set by the USEPA. When these levels are exceeded, further treatment and monitoring is required by the respective utility who’s water violated this limit.Action Levels apply to parameter-rules such as but not limited to the Copper/Lead Rule.
  • PARTS PER MILLION (ppm) PPM is a scientific measurement which represents milligrams of the parameter being tested per liter of the respective liquid. Example: If Copper in your water supply is at a concentration of 1.00 mg/L, this is the same as saying the concentration is 1.00 ppm.
Scroll to Top