[Mr TW]

Anyone have any information on water hardness?

When we moved into a hard water area, the kids Eczema flaired up. We purchased a water softener and within 3 months it had settled down again.

Are there hard and soft water areas around NZ, particularly Christchuch?

[veronica]

the water in Chch area seems to be pretty normal, neither hard nor soft and its good drinking water, (comes from underground springs apparently) can't answer for the outlying areas though.

[Mr TW]

Thanks Veronica

[sarahw]

The water seems to be very soft here (certainly in Welly anyway) takes ages to get shampoo out of your hair (or pets!!).

I went out & asked where I could buy dishwasher salts (in Harvey Norman - large electrical appliance shop) - they all fell about laughing asking why I would put salt in my dishwasher - I showed them the special container for it in all of their dishwashers on their floor & they soon stopped laughing. They said they'd never heard of it!! One of the staff helpfully piped up that they weren't needed in NZ something to do with the water softness... I don't know how true that is but I've never seen dishwasher salts in any shop over here...

[jubjub]

I just checked inside my kettle (how sad is that) not a mark inside it.... guess that tells you something, soft water then I guess....

My mums kettle in the midlands always used to get big crunchy bits of limescale in it!

[Mr TW]

I'll take it that its well and truly soft over there then. I love the story about the dishwasher - classic :)