Does Australia have hard water? And why?
Have you ever noticed a change in your hair and skin when you travel to another city or country, or simply move house? The water quality in the area could be one of the reasons why.
Australia has diverse water sources, meaning the water coming from you tap can vary depending on your location.
Where does Australian tap water come from?
Australia's tap water primarily comes from surface water, groundwater and desalinated seawater. Depending on where your water comes from determines what different minerals and irritants are in your water.
Groundwater travels through layers of soil and rock, picking up naturally occurring minerals along the way. It can contain higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium, the two main minerals that can be responsible for water hardness. The amount varies depending on the geology of the area.
Surface water, sourced from dams, rivers and lakes, can contain many of the same naturally occurring minerals. As rainfall moves across soil and rock into waterways, it can pick up minerals, sediment and organic matter along the way.
Desalinated water begins as seawater and undergoes extensive treatment to remove salts and other substances before becoming safe to drink.
What happens before it reaches your shower?
Regardless of the source, Australian tap water is treated to ensure it's safe to drink and shower in. Treatment varies depending on the water source and can include filtration and disinfection using chlorine. Which is why it is important to have a filter on your shower as chlorine is often pumped into water in Australia and chlorine can lead to hair and skin becoming dry, irritated and hair becoming brassy.
Water then travels through the distribution network and your home's plumbing before reaching your shower, which can further influence the water coming from your tap.
Why does this matter for your hair and skin?
The combination of water source, mineral content, water hardness, treatment and plumbing means shower water can vary significantly from one location to another.
This could be one reason your hair suddenly feels different after moving house, your blonde becomes harder to maintain while travelling or your skin feels drier after showering somewhere new.
You spend so much time thinking about the products you put on our hair and skin, but rarely think about the water you’re showering in every day. Understanding your shower water could be the missing step in your hair and skin routine.
