Water Hardness Calculator & Solution Selector
Enter your water hardness, TDS, water source, application, pipe size and pump capacity to understand your hardness category and get a practical treatment direction.
Check Your Water Hardness
Enter the available details below. You can leave optional fields blank.
Your Water Analysis
What Does Your Water Hardness Result Mean?
| Hardness | ppm / mg/L as CaCO₃ | General Classification | Possible Observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–60 | 0–60 ppm | Soft | Lower hardness-related scale potential |
| 61–120 | 61–120 ppm | Moderately Hard | Some scale may become noticeable depending on use |
| 121–180 | 121–180 ppm | Hard | Hard-water scale-related problems may become more noticeable |
| Above 180 | 180+ ppm | Very Hard | Greater potential for scale-related problems |
Water Hardness and TDS Are Not the Same
A TDS meter measures the overall concentration of dissolved ionic material. It does not separately tell you how much calcium and magnesium hardness is present.
For example, two water sources can have similar TDS values but very different hardness levels.
Therefore, do not choose a water conditioner, softener or RO system using only a TDS meter reading.
Check Both When Possible
- Total hardness
- TDS / conductivity
- pH
- Iron
- Alkalinity
- Water source
- Application
- Daily water consumption
Which Water Treatment Do You Actually Need?
The correct technology depends on what you want to change in the water.
Want Actual Hardness Reduction?
If you need measurable calcium and magnesium hardness reduction, a properly sized ion-exchange water softener may be required.
Want Salt-Free Scale Management?
Where the main problem is hard-water scale and salt-free operation is preferred, a suitable water conditioner may be evaluated.
Want TDS Reduction?
If dissolved salt or drinking-water TDS reduction is required, a suitable RO system should be evaluated after water testing.
Suspended Dirt or Sand?
Sediment, sand, multimedia or other appropriate filtration may be required. These systems do not normally remove dissolved hardness.
Iron Staining?
Iron-related problems should be evaluated separately and may require dedicated iron-removal treatment.
Industrial RO / Boiler?
Industrial membrane and boiler systems require detailed water chemistry, operating conditions and equipment-specific pretreatment design.
When Can Ethix Be Considered?
Ethix Water Conditioner is designed for salt-free hard-water scale-management applications.
It can be evaluated for suitable residential, housing society, commercial, industrial and agriculture applications after reviewing water quality and hydraulic details.
Ethix Is Not:
- Not an RO purifier
- Does not reduce TDS
- Not an ion-exchange softener
- Does not intentionally remove calcium and magnesium
Its Main Purpose:
Salt-free hard-water scale management in suitable water systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 300 ppm water hardness high?
Yes. A total hardness of 300 ppm as CaCO₃ falls in the very-hard-water range and can contribute to scale-related problems depending on the application and operating conditions.
Is 500 ppm hardness safe for a water heater?
Very hard water can create significant scale potential in heated-water equipment. Treatment selection should consider water chemistry, temperature and equipment requirements.
Does high TDS mean hard water?
Not necessarily. TDS and hardness are different measurements. Water may have high TDS without proportionally high hardness, or significant hardness at a moderate TDS level.
What is considered hard water?
Water with total hardness from approximately 121 to 180 ppm as CaCO₃ is commonly classified as hard. Water above 180 ppm is commonly classified as very hard.
Does Ethix reduce laboratory hardness?
No. Ethix is intended for scale management rather than ion-exchange hardness removal.
Does Ethix reduce TDS?
No. TDS reduction generally requires a separation technology such as reverse osmosis where appropriate.
Need Help Selecting the Correct Hard-Water Solution?
Share your water report, hardness, TDS, pipe size, pump HP and application with the Ethix technical team for a site-specific recommendation.
Toll-Free: 1800-123-6463
