The first water from the tap is stagnant and contains lime scale

I measured it. At the beginning it is about 6-7 degrees dH and then settles at the target value of 3-4.

Why do you reduce the water hardness so drastically? Is there a special reason for that?

Why do you reduce the water hardness so drastically? Is there a special reason for this?

4° dH is just the standard target value for pearl water. Basically, we have the system because we have sensitive skin.

We have had a separate cold water pipe installed specifically for the kitchen sink before the water softening system to preserve the drinking water quality. The bathrooms, dishwasher, etc. run through the softening system. For each dH of softening, 8.2 mg/l of sodium is added to the water through ion exchange. Considering that infant formula should only be prepared with water containing a maximum of 20 mg/l of sodium, one can imagine what softening from 17 dH to, for example, 8 dH means for the body's sodium balance – not just for infants or toddlers. Here we have 21, sometimes 22 dH. Drinking water softened down to 8 dH over the long term would really be unhealthy.

We have installed a separate cold water line for the kitchen sink in front of the water softening system to preserve drinking quality. The bathrooms, dishwasher, etc., run through the softening system. For each dH of softening, 8.2 mg/l of sodium is added to the water through ion exchange. Considering that infant formula should only be prepared with water containing a maximum of 20 mg/l of sodium, one can imagine what softening from 17 dH to, for example, 8 dH means for the body's sodium balance—not only for infants or toddlers. Here we have 21, sometimes 22 dH. Drinking water softened down to 8 dH over the long term would really be unhealthy.

You are right, one definitely has to be careful with babies. For everyone else, however, it is harmless; we have 12° dH here, going down to 4° => 8 x 8.2 mg = 65.6 mg. The tap water itself contains between 20 - 30 mg/l depending on the water source. In total, we are therefore below 100 mg, and thus still quite far from the limit values. Of course, it's an interesting topic, but I would return to the original question about why the first half liter after longer standing time smells so musty :confused:

I have to say that exactly for this reason:

because of the standing water in the pipes overnight

...I learned it from my mom...

When I let the first 300-400 ml of water run through

...to do exactly that.

These 3-400 ml are used many times over elsewhere, without even talking about waste.

quite a waste of water

...but one could, for example, compensate for this waste by showering 5 seconds shorter.

Or water the flowers with the first 500ml.