YOUR WATER PROFILE

No. Water hardness mainly describes the amount of calcium and magnesium present. It is not a judgement on overall drinking-water quality. Hard water may, however, cause visible limescale and affect how readily soap and some cleansing products lather.

Not as a single cause. Dry skin can have many contributing factors, including water temperature, frequent cleansing, climate, skin condition and the products used. Research suggests that hard water combined with certain surfactants may leave more residue on the skin. This does not mean that everyone living in a hard-water area develops dry skin.

A water softener is not a medical treatment. A large randomised study involving children with existing moderate to severe eczema found no objectively measurable additional benefit compared with usual care. Skin conditions should be medically assessed regardless of water hardness.

Calcium and magnesium can deposit on the hair and be taken up by it. Studies have reached differing conclusions about surface changes, stiffness and tensile strength. It is therefore not justified to claim that hard water inevitably causes long-term damage to every type of hair.

People often refer to limescale in water. More precisely, calcium and magnesium ions are dissolved in it. Visible limescale forms particularly when water is heated or evaporates, leaving poorly soluble calcium carbonate behind.

Usually not. Water hardness is mainly determined by the supplied water and its calcium and magnesium content. The plumbing within a building can affect other properties, however. Depending on pipe materials and how long the water has been standing, metals from pipes or fittings may enter the water. A regional water profile does not measure this.

Not always. The water profile shows the published value for your supply area. Multiple supply networks, changing water sources or a softener within the building may cause the value at your tap to differ. Only an on-site measurement can precisely describe the water at your own tap.

No. An ordinary shower filter does not automatically remove calcium and magnesium from water. Many shower filters are designed mainly for chlorine, odour or particles. A process proven to reduce hardness, such as ion exchange, is required for genuine water softening.

Not for skin or hair care alone. A true water softener can reduce limescale in hot-water systems and appliances and help soap lather more readily. Whether the technical and financial investment is worthwhile depends on the building, water hardness and personal priorities. It should not be viewed as a treatment for dry skin or a skin condition.

An inexpensive shower filter is not a substitute for true water softening. Your daily routine can often be adjusted without technical equipment: use warm rather than very hot water, avoid unnecessarily long showers, rinse products thoroughly, dry the skin gently and apply care afterwards when needed. If hair remains persistently dull or rough, an occasional product expressly formulated for mineral build-up may be worth considering.

The published supplier value describes the water before treatment within the building. If a softener is installed, the hardness at your tap may be lower. If you know that value, you can enter it directly into your water profile.

A municipal supplier value is not meaningful for a private well. Use an existing test or laboratory value. We can then classify the water hardness, but this cannot provide a complete assessment of water quality.

The water profile describes water hardness. It does not assess pH, chlorine, lead, copper, nickel, nitrate, microorganisms, pipe condition or overall drinking-water quality. If you have specific concerns about plumbing or drinking water, professional testing is the appropriate basis.

Persistent itching, inflammation, rashes or noticeably worsening symptoms should be medically assessed. The water profile offers orientation for your daily care ritual; it is not a medical diagnosis.