Is hard water bad for you?

If you live in a hard water area, chances are you’ve wondered whether all that limescale building up in your kettle is doing something sneaky inside your body too. Is hard water bad for me? Is it safe to drink? Should I be worried?

Here’s the short answer off the bat: No, hard water isn’t bad for you. But (of course) there’s a bit more to it than that. Let’s dig in.

What is hard water, exactly?

Hard water simply means your water has a higher concentration of minerals — mainly calcium and magnesium. These are naturally picked up as water passes through chalky limestone and other rock formations (hello, most of the South of England).

These are the same minerals your body needs to stay healthy — so not only is hard water safe, it can actually be good for you!

Why hard water is good for your health

We’ve all seen the bottles fancy mineral waters, but guess what — if you live in a hard water area, chances are you’re already getting a regular dose of some of those very same minerals straight from your tap!

Here’s what they’re doing for your body:

Calcium: Supports strong bones and teeth, muscle function, nerve transmission, and cardiovascular health. A daily top-up from your tap? We’ll take it.

Magnesium: Involved in over 300 reactions in the body, including energy production, nerve function, and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Most of us don’t get enough magnesium through diet alone — so your hard water might actually be giving you a helpful boost.

Some studies have suggested a link between hard water and lower rates of cardiovascular disease. While it's not conclusive, it’s a comforting thought next time you spot some limescale in your cuppa.

So from a nutrition standpoint, hard water’s actually doing you some good!

Wait — what about the floaty bits?

Is drinking limescale bad for you? Good news, it's not. Those chalky flakes you sometimes spot at the bottom of your cup are usually just calcium carbonate — a naturally occurring mineral. While they’re not the most appealing thing to find in your hot drinks, they’re completely harmless to drink. So if you’ve ever accidentally swallowed a bit of limescale, don’t worry — it won’t do you any harm.

But what about other effects?

Here’s the thing — while it’s fine to drink, hard water can be a nuisance in other ways. It’s more about what it does to your skin, hair, and home:

Skin

Some people find hard water dries out their skin or irritates conditions like eczema. The minerals in hard water can strip natural oils, leaving skin feeling tight or flaky, and sometimes block pores.

Hair

Hard water can make hair feel brittle, dry or just plain dull. It’s harder to rinse out shampoo and conditioner, and you might notice more tangles or frizz. Long term, mineral deposits can build up on your scalp too, leading to dryness or dandruff.

Home

You don’t need us to tell you this one — limescale loves to cling to:

• Kettle elements and heating coils

• Showerheads and taps

• Glass shower screens

• Toilets and sinks

• Pipes and boilers

• Towels (goodbye, fluffiness)

And if your area’s water has extra iron in it? Expect reddish-orange stains around your tiles or drains too. If you’ve noticed any of the above, it’s not harmful — but it can be annoying.

That’s where shower filters and a good haircare and skin routine come in.

So… should you filter your hard water?

You don’t need to — but you might want to.

If you don’t like the taste of hard water, want to cut down on limescale cleaning, or find that hard water irritates your skin or hair, a water filter could make a big difference.

There are loads of options — from simple jug filters to tap-mounted filters, shower filters, and even whole-home softening systems. You can go small or go all in.

But if you’re drinking it as-is from the tap, rest easy: you’re not harming your health.

In fact, your kettle’s probably having a harder time than you are!

✨ Limescale lowdown ✨

• Hard water isn’t harmful to drink — it can actually support your health thanks to calcium and magnesium.

• Limescale flakes in your cuppa? Harmless. Not tasty, but not toxic either.

• Skin and hair might suffer, though — especially if you're prone to dryness or irritation.

• A water filter isn’t essential, but it might make your life (and your cleaning routine) easier.