WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDS THAT DRINKING WATER SHOULD NOT CONTAIN MORE THAN 500 PPM OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS.

HEART ATTACK, DUE TO SOFT WATER:--Researches done in various countries have shown a clear trend toward greater occurrence of heart attacks in populations using the soft water than in those relying on hard water from wells, reservoirs and rivers. Conversely, areas supplied with hard water generally show fewer deaths from heart attacks than to areas supplied with soft water. Soft water which is low in calcium and magnesium salts, tends to be more acidic than hard water. Distilled water, for example, is hundred percent soft. But just why such differences should be important to man's health is what baffles scientists. They offer, however two possible explanations as mentioned below:-- (1) Hard water could contain a factor that helps prevent attacks. This factor might be missing in soft water. (2) Soft and acidic water could leach cadmium and lead from water pipes and become harmful. There are two systems of expressing degree of hardness, 1 grain of hardening salt dissolved in 1 gallon (70000 grains) of water is taken as 1degree of hardness on Clark's (English) scale. The metric French standard refers to 1 part by weight of salts in 100,000 parts of water and is 7/10 times the Clark's system. In other words 1 grain of salt in 1 gallon of water is 1 degree in hardness on Clark's scale and 1-3/7 degree in hardness on Metric scale. World Health Organization recommends that drinking water should not contain more than 500 ppm of dissolved solids. Water is brackish if it contains over 1000ppm . Sea water contains 35000ppm . Sea water contains from 3to 4 percent by weight of salts, ie about 30 grams per litre. Saturation point is reached when 220 grams per litre are present Further concentrations cause salts to be deposited. (ppm is parts per million by weight and is equal to 0.0001 percent).