WHAT
INFLUENCES IT?
1. Geology and
Soils: As water flows over land, some of the chemicals in the
rocks and soils seep into the water. For example, calcium and
magnessium leach out of rocks such as limestone and gypsum. The
longer a river flows over these rocks, the more calcium and magnesium
the water accumulates. In general, hardness increases as you
go downstream.
2. Seasonal
Fluctuations: In Colorado, hardness decreases with spring runoff
as mountain snows melt and fill rivers. Hardness increases during
the winter. By increasing river volume, runoff decreases the
concentration of Mg+2 and Ca+2.
3. Irrigation:
Irrigation can increase levels of Mg+2 and Ca+2 because as the
water travels over land, it can collect more minerals.
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