How hard water impacts chemical performance

5 Mar 2025

We know water is an integral part of dairy hygiene and teat care. But did you know that the quality of your farm’s water will affect how well the detergents and teat sprays perform, especially on dairy farms with hard water?

Hard water is water that contains high levels of mineral salts, particularly calcium and magnesium. When adding an acid-based detergent to hard water, the solution works as a buffer and resists changes in pH. It also reduces the amount of foam created during the wash cycle, which can result in certain surfaces of the plant not being cleaned properly. Water pH must drop to below 3 after the addition of the acid detergent. If your farm’s water has high alkalinity levels, more acid will be required to reach a sufficient pH level.

As well as detergents, hard water can influence the efficacy of chlorhexidine-based teat sprays. The hard water causes the active ingredients to bind up, which can result in filters and spray nozzles getting blocked. Not only is this a huge inconvenience, but it also means that there will be less chlorhexidine in the teat spray when it gets sprayed onto cows’ udders.

Visually assessing your water is only going to get you so far. Have a chat to your local FIL Area Manager about testing your farm’s water using one of their water and chemical testing kits. By understanding your farm’s water type, you can make sure you are using the right product and correct amount to do the job right.

Contact your local Area Manager to book a free on-farm consultation.