If you have a water softener, it is recommended that you always keep a separate mains-fed tap for drinking and cooking, and follow the manufacturers' instructions for installation and operation carefully.
Water hardness is the result of naturally occurring calcium and magnesium salts. The harder the water, the more salts it will contain.
Water supplied by Hartlepool Water is classified as being hard.
Some customers choose to artificially soften their water to prevent build-up of deposits in, for example, boilers. Hartlepool Water strongly advises that customers always have at least one mains-fed tap in the property for drinking and cooking purposes. This is particularly important for bottle-fed infants and anyone on a sodium-restricted diet*. In addition there are of studies show that drinking hard water reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.