Analysis on Total Hardness of Drinking Water in Guangxi Rural Areas in 2008-2012

Objectives To understand the content and distribution of the total hardness of drinking water in Guangxi rural areas.

Methods The content and distribution of total hardness of drinking water in Guangxi rural areas was described and analyzed, and the test Results in 2008-2012 were evaluated according to the Health Standard for Drinking Water (GB 5749-2006), the data were analyzed by Excel 2010 and SPSS 17.0.

Results Most of drinking water in Guangxi was very soft water and soft water. The soft water with a concentration of CaCO₃ below 150 mg/L accounted for 60.20%; mid-level hard water accounted for 36.89%, and the normal-level and high-level as well as super-high level hard water were rare. Surface water was mainly presented as soft water while groundwater was mainly presented as mid-level hard water from different water source in Guangxi.

Conclusions The total hardness of drinking water in Guangxi was quite low, mainly presented as soft water. Research on the effect of water hardness on people's health together with associated interventions should be strengthened.