Tackling Limescale: Ways to remove it from tap water

Limescale is a common and persistent problem in many households. It is the result of mineral deposits, primarily calcium and magnesium, found in hard water. Over time, these minerals can build up in your faucets, shower heads, coffee machines, kettles and other water fixtures, causing blockages, reducing water flow, and leaving unsightly stains. This article will explore what limescale is, investigate any potential health issues with limescale and examine various types of limescale filters to identify the most effective method.

What is Limescale?

Limescale is the hard white and chalky residue of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium that is left behind when hard water evaporates. Hard water is rich in minerals, notably consisting of calcium, carbonate, magnesium, and manganese. If you notice scale deposits accumulating on your coffee makers, kettles, carafes or glasses, it’s a clear sign of the “hard water” issue in your household. For water to be classified as “hard” the mineral content is high, anything above 60 milligrams per litre. Across Australia each city and state is different.

Is Limescale harmful in drinking water?

Limescale is not bad for your health. The minerals that cause limescale naturally occur in your drinking water and all the drinking water supplies undergo strict government-regulated monitoring to guarantee their safety for consumption. Drinking hard water can even help you achieve your recommended daily intake of key minerals like magnesium and calcium. For adults, the daily recommended minimum intake of calcium is 500-1200 mg a day and 300 mg of magnesium. Drinking 2 litres of water a day, you will be able to get 10-20% of your daily calcium requirement and up to 1/3 of your required magnesium intake.

Hard water is a common phenomenon. While it poses no health risks, it affects the day-to-day life of the household in various ways. The buildup of residue occurs as the minerals in hard water precipitate out and solidify over time. Limescale residue accumulates on faucets, showerheads, and the insides of pipes and appliances like kettles and dishwashers can lead to reduced water flow as well as clogs in pipes. Ultimately impacting on the maintenance and life of various home appliances and plumbing systems.

Ways of Removing Limescale from Tap Water

Method 1: Ion Exchange (Alkaline water or water softeners)

Ion exchange is a method that involves replacing calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, effectively “softening” the water.   It is achieved by passing water through resin beads containing sodium ions, which attract and replace the hardness ions.  This process is effective at reducing limescale buildup, but the downside is it can make the water slightly acidic which can sometimes take weeks to get used to the taste.

Method 2: Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that employs a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from other substances, removing impurities, including 92-99% of minerals. It is a highly effective method for limescale removal, providing purified water suitable for drinking and cooking.  However, reverse osmosis can be water-intensive and generate waste water.

Method 3: Tap Water Filtration

Tap water filtration systems use activated carbon filters to remove limescale, chlorine, and other impurities. The exclusive limescale inhibitor creates a compound with inorganic impurities, stopping the minerals from forming hard stubborn limescale. The advantage of this solution is that it can easily be installed directly to the faucet and retains the natural level of calcium and magnesium, ensuring the water’s taste remains the same. However, the filters need to be replaced regularly to maintain effectiveness.  The lifespan of a filter depends on the quality of the filter, the amount of water filtered, and the specific contaminants in the water.   Replacing filters can be an ongoing cost and has environmental impacts if these filters are non-recyclable.

Method 4: Intrix Advance Water Filtration Technology

Intrix One tap is an innovative all-in-one tap that effectively removes 99.99% of microbes up to 0.01 microns (μm).  It is designed with 3 levels of filtration in the 1 cartridge.  First, a sediment filter to remove the larger particles, then through an activated carbon block to actively remove cysts, unpleasant odours, chlorine, chloramine, trihalomethane, VOCs and other heavy metals, and finally, a nanofiltration membrane to preserve important natural minerals, while eliminating bacteria, algae, parasites and some viruses.  It is also made with a titanium inner core to prevent corrosion, hazards and limescale buildup.

Intrix One Tap only needs one filter cartridge replacement yearly without any other maintenance providing an easy & hassle-free solution to enjoy high-quality purified water.

Comparison of the different methods:

Benefits of a Limescale Water Filter

In areas with hard water, installing a limescale water filter means:

• No more hard stubborn white limescale stains in coffee makers or kettles
• No more limescale in carafes and glasses which means easier cleaning
• Household appliances that require water may require less maintenance which means a longer life

In summary, limescale is the residue left behind from the presence of calcium and magnesium in hard water. Limescale poses no proven health risks. However, the buildup of limescale overtime may impact on the usage and life of some household appliances, such as kettles, coffee makers, shower heads etc… To combat limescale in tap water, a range of technologies are available including, ion exchange (water softeners or alkaline water), reverse osmosis, tap water filter and Intrix’s innovative method.

Health experts recommend drinking plenty of water (2-2.6 litres) a day to maintain good health and stay hydrated, thus we should be conscious of what type of water we are actually consuming.  Intrix’s cutting-edge water filtration technologies will ensure that we are giving our bodies clean water that is free from limescale deposits, bacteria & viruses, while containing the natural beneficial minerals.