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APPENDIX. 125
citizens of the metropolis would enjoy the advantage of a tolerably
pure soft water, free from those inconveniences which attend
the use of the present hard-water supply.
Confining myself wholly to a chemical view of the subject, the
principal disadvantages attending the use of hard river waters
are—
First, The precipitation of earthy matter on the inside of
vessels in which the water is heated. This furring of the vessel,
as it is called, leads to its more rapid destruction, and has also the
inconvenience of rendering it more difficult to cleanse, so that
the flavour and odour of the various substances cooked in it are
not readily removed. From the non-conducting power of the
earthy crust, an increased consumption of fuel is also required for
the due heating of the vessel.
Secondly, The admixture of the earthy salts with the various
articles of food submitted to the action of hot water.
Thirdly, Diminished solvent power, as required for the purposes
of the chemist, the brewer, and for many domestic purposes,
as in the making of tea, soups, &c.
Fourthly, Diminished cleansing power, both as regards the direct
solvent action of the water, and also as causing the decomposition
of soap, and consequent increased consumption of that article.
I must, however, remark that the annual loss reported to arise from
this cause appears to me considerably overrated, since water is
rarely used for the washing of linen until previously boiled, and
the common practice of adding carbonate of soda to the water
completely destroys the ill effects resulting from the hardness of
the water. The additional expense of the carbonate of soda, thus
added, is too trifling to merit notice; but when this salt is used
in excess, as is generally the case, it produces the more serious
evil of materially impairing the strength of the fabric submitted
to its action.
The only real advantage which hard water possesses over soft
(and in the present state of things one of considerable importance),
is, that it does not act upon or erode the lead of the pipes and
cisterns in which it is contained.
There are also some particular cases of minor importance in
which hard water is preferred; thus dyers prefer hard water for
rinsing of their goods, soft water extracting too much of the
colour; but these cases are comparatively rare, and might be
easily accomplished by an artificial hardening of the water.