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<br /> <br />C. Hunicipal Impacts <br /> <br />tv <br />en <br />N <br />tC) A high dissolved solids content of water distributed by a munic- <br /> <br />ipality will adversely affect its individual users. Such adverse <br />. . . <br /> <br />effects relate to the aesthetic quality of the water and to the <br />operating and maintenance costs associated with its beneficial use. <br /> <br />During the past 10 to 15 years, a number of investigators have <br />studied the relationship between composition of water supplied to <br /> <br />a municipality and costs associated with the use of water-connected <br /> <br />facilities. The data which have been gathered are not altogether <br /> <br />consistent. Investigators have not studied the same ranges of dis- <br />solved solids and much more research is needed. However, some <br /> <br />monetary benefits of water improvement have been identified and <br /> <br />from these it is possible to prepare estimates of the tangible <br /> <br /> <br />advantages of reducing the dissolved solids and hardness level of <br /> <br />a municipal water supply. <br /> <br />It has always been recognized that the consumption of soap and <br />detergents would be greater in areas Of hard water. Other costs <br />reSUlting from water hardness include treatment for softening, <br /> <br />wear on clothing, reduced life of cooking utensils, and scaling <br /> <br />of water heaters and piping. In almost all natural waters, hard- <br /> <br />ness is caused by calcium and magnesium ions. <br /> <br />30 <br />