What causes hard water?
Hard water comes out of the ground that way. Soils in different areas of the country contain different levels of the elements. In areas with hard water, the soil is rich in calcium, magnesium, and other salt ions.
Water management may soften water at the water treatment plant and deliver soft water from mineral rich soil. However, some water treatment plants don't soften water because they want to leave that choice up the individual using the water.

Is hard water okay to drink?
Yep, hard water is fine to drink. It is actually healthier than softened water because it includes all of the natural minerals. Water softening removes some of the helpful minerals and replaces them with sodium. Although there are other problems associated with hard water, it is probably better for you than artificially softened water. Think about people buying "mineral water", this healthy drink is the same as hard water.

What problems are associated with hard water?
The two main problems are related to how it reacts with soap and the deposits that it leaves. The lathering problem might be troublesome if you are used to lathering up and suddenly you can't. However, people don't need lather, we just get used to it. However, the chemical reaction that prevents soap from lathering also prevents other detergents for doing their jobs. For this reason, clothes that are washed in hard water don't get as clean and feel stiff and scratchy after laundering.
Dishes in the dishwasher suffer as well. The dishes will be cleaned but as the water dries on the dishes, the minerals will dry on as well, leaving glasses looking hazy and silverware looking spotted. These hard water deposits are difficult to remove.
The main problems associated with hard water are the mineral deposits that they leave behind. These deposits can be a cleaning menace as they build up in tubs and in showers and on tiles. They can also cause problems inside of your plumbing. Especially when your water appliance handles a lot of hot water, the lime scales can build up and clog your pipes. This leads to frequent replacement and an energy loss. Hard water is known to increase energy bills by as much as 25%..

What can be done about hard water?
All sorts of water softeners are commercially available. There are cheap models for around $100 dollars or more expensive systems that might cost over $1000. After installing the water softener, you will need to replace the salt occasionally and remove the waste. The hard minerals are trapped by the water softener and will build up on the filters and screens. If you do buy a water softener, read (and keep) all of the instructions. If you take care of your water softener, it will last for many years.

What is a magnetic water softener?
The electromagnetic water softener is increasing in popularity because they allow the water to retain the calcium, which is an essential mineral. They work by neutralizing the calcium so that it doesn't form the lime scales, which cause most of the hard water problems.