Hillsboro’s main source of water is currently the Tualatin River Watershed, which the city has used since 1913. This water source has outgrown its ability to supply the town with water, however, and the city has begun putting a plan in place to start sourcing its water from the Willamette River within the coming decade. Currently, once water is sourced from the Tualatin Basin it travels to a water treatment center where chemicals are added to clean and disinfect the water. Hillsboro’s municipal water then sits in reservoirs before it is distributed with the help of gravity through a complex series of water mains to homes and businesses.
Hard, Poor-Quality Water
Dissolved iron and other hard minerals are absorbed during the filtration and treatment process, as well as along water's journey from source to tap. These absorbed minerals and metals cause the water to become hard and its quality depleted. Some household headaches associated with using hard water include:
Clogged appliances that lead to water-flow issues
Hard-to-clean residue and buildup on appliances, hardware, and surfaces
Soap scum on showers, bathtubs, and sinks
Prematurely aged clothing and linens that are rough to the touch
Lime or White Scale Buildup
Limescale is the hard, off-white deposit that creates buildup on many household items as a result of using hard water around the house. Some examples of this include:
Pesky sediment and scum buildup on bathroom and kitchen appliances
Underperforming appliances that result in added household costs
Off-white buildup that causes faucets and showerheads to clog
Difficult-to-clean surfaces
Spotty, Cloudy Glassware
Spotty and cloudy residue on glassware can be tough to get rid of with high mineral concentrations in your water. Doing the dishes with hard water can result in:
White spots on glasses and silverware
Easy-to-spot fingerprints on freshly cleaned glasses
