Dry Skin and Water Conditions in Richland County: Separating Common Beliefs from Government Records
$1,340.00
✓ Free shipping in the USA · ✓ 90-day returns · ✓ Secure checkout
Myth: Commercial water issues explain household dry skin completely
Many assume that water problems causing dry skin in homes are the same as those affecting businesses or industrial facilities. However, commercial or industrial operators consider additional factors such as large-scale water volume use, specific chemical treatment needs for manufacturing processes, and regulatory limits that do not apply to residential water consumption. Households typically focus on the quality of water affecting daily activities like bathing and drinking rather than those commercial thresholds. Therefore, residential concerns about dry skin relate more to localized water characteristics than to the broader operational water issues faced by businesses.
Myth: Dry skin from water is the same as dry skin from other common causes
Dry skin can arise from multiple sources, including environmental factors like low humidity, skincare products, or medical conditions. Dry skin believed to be caused by water, especially in Richland County, should be distinguished from these other causes. Local government groundwater sampling in the aquifer 211MDDF found calcium and magnesium levels with a median concentration of 7.485 mg/L (range 1.73 to 19.1 mg/L). These minerals contribute to what is often called water hardness. While hardness itself is not a health concern and was never above federal limits in this sampling, it can affect how water interacts with skin. Testing your own water is necessary to confirm if mineral content is a factor in dry skin, as the government data covers area-wide conditions only.
Myth: Water treatment simply removes dryness-causing minerals
The Pentair Dry, Itchy Skin System works by targeting dissolved calcium and magnesium ions typically associated with hardness. Rather than removing these minerals completely, the system modifies their interaction with water to reduce the sensation of dryness after bathing. It ships ready to configure for household use, adjusting water properties to ease skin dryness without altering your water’s compliance with safety standards. This approach differs from treatments aiming solely to reduce hardness numbers and focuses on improving skin feel and comfort.
Myth: Untreated water hardness inevitably worsens skin dryness over time
Leaving hardness minerals untreated in water does not necessarily lead to progressive skin damage or medical skin conditions. However, over years, continual exposure to water with higher calcium and magnesium levels may exacerbate skin dryness for sensitive individuals. Using a treatment system like the Pentair Dry, Itchy Skin System can alleviate hydration issues related to water contact by changing water characteristics rather than promising a cure for all causes of dry skin. Recognizing the limits of treatment helps set realistic expectations for managing water-related dryness.
Myth: Mineral content in groundwater comes from surface pollution or recent contamination
In Richland County, calcium and magnesium found in groundwater originate naturally from the dissolution of aquifer materials over geological timescales. The sampled wells in aquifer 211MDDF ranged from 9 to 140 feet in depth, indicating these minerals are typical components of the groundwater system rather than resulting from surface contamination. Understanding this natural source helps contextualize why these minerals are consistently detected and aids in deciding whether water treatment is needed based on individual water tests rather than area averages.
The U.S. Geological Survey conducted the groundwater sampling from 2011 through 2016 across 26 wells in Richland County’s aquifer 211MDDF area, providing reliable data on calcium and magnesium concentrations. For homeowners experiencing dry skin concerns potentially linked to water, testing your own water remains the best step to verify conditions. This record serves as a valuable regional reference and is accessible through the USGS water data system.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2016-09-01. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Hardness, Ca, Mg in the 211MDDF aquifer (Richland County): 30 results from 26 wells, median 7.485 mg/L, range 1.73-19.1 mg/L; none above any federal threshold