Chlorine is safe at the levels used for water treatment. There are disinfection by-products produced when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water. The levels of disinfection by-products meet current health standard and the level of risk is extremely low, even after a lifetime of consumption. The benefits of chlorination far outweigh the known risk of bacteria in the water. However, water consumers with specific concerns about chlorine should contact their doctors.
Hardness of water is a result of dissolved natural minerals in the water supply.
The soft water causes a number of aesthetic effects, such as, ample lathering from soaps, corroding copper pipe and blue stains in bath tubs. The stain is the result of reaction between the low pH water and the copper pipe, which dissolves copper into the water. It is more obvious from the hot water pipes than the cold water pipes. Lowering the temperature of the hot water can also aleviate the staining problem. GVRD is in the process of raising the pH of the water at the sources as part of their Drinking Water Treatment Program to control the corrosion problems.