Is Saskatoon Water Making Your Child’s Eczema Worse?
- tattie9
- Nov 19
- 5 min read
If your toddler or little one struggles with stubborn eczema, itchy patches, dry spots, or flare-ups that come back again and again, you’re not alone.
Parents across Saskatoon talk about lotions, steroid creams, and prescriptions… yet still ask:
“Why isn’t this getting better?”
The answer might not be the cream.
It might be your water.
What Saskatoon Parents Should Know About Our Water
According to the City of Saskatoon 2024 Water Quality Report, our municipal water contains:
Hardness (treated water): ~170 mg/L (hard)
Hardness (raw water intake): ~196 mg/L (very hard)
Chloramine (total chlorine at plant): ~1.7 – 2.4 mg/L
Distribution residuals: 0.58 – 2.84 mg/L (min. required: 0.5 mg/L)
THMs (by-products): ~45 µg/L (limit: 100 µg/L)
HAA5: ~18 µg/L (limit: 80 µg/L)
Translation: Saskatoon’s water is safe to drink, but hard water + chloramine can be irritating for sensitive skin, especially in children with eczema.
The Science: How Saskatoon's Hard Water Makes Eczema Worse
Studies consistently show that children living in homes with hard water are more likely to develop eczema, and flare-ups often worsen when exposed to hardness minerals daily.
1. It Disrupts the Skin Barrier
Hard water strips away natural oils, leaving the skin dry and inflamed.
2. It Raises Skin pH
Healthy skin is slightly acidic. Hard water makes it more alkaline, weakening the barrier.
3. It Creates Irritating Soap Residue
Minerals bind to soaps and cleansers, leaving an irritating film on the skin after every bath.
4. It Increases Irritants Like SLS on the Skin
SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is a common foaming ingredient found in soaps, shampoos, and body washes.
In hard water, SLS binds to minerals and clings to the skin longer, drying the barrier and worsening flare-ups, especially in young children whose skin is thinner.
5. Higher Risk for Certain Kids
Children with a filaggrin gene mutation are especially reactive to hard water and more likely to have eczema.
📌 UK Study Highlight: Hard Water and an 87% Higher Risk of Childhood Eczema
A major UK study from King’s College London, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that babies living in hard-water homes had up to an 87% increased risk of developing eczema by three months of age. Minerals in hard water may damage the skin barrier early, increasing dryness and inflammation.
Read the full study summary here:
Chloramine: The Other Irritant Hiding in Saskatoon Water
Saskatoon disinfects its water with chloramine, not chlorine. Chloramine is created by combining chlorine + ammonia, and the city uses it because it:
lasts longer in the water system
produces fewer by-products than chlorine
stays stable over long pipelines
However, chloramine:
remains in the water longer
is harder to remove
may irritate sensitive or compromised skin
For children with eczema, this longer contact time — especially during frequent baths — can make symptoms worse.
Important Note: Boiling Water Does Not Remove Chloramine
Many parents boil water thinking it will make it gentler.
But, the truth is:
Boiling removes chlorine (because it evaporates)
Chloramine does not evaporate — it’s heat-resistant and chemically stable
So boiling water does not reduce chloramine levels.
To reduce chloramine, you need:
activated catalytic carbon filtration (like Serenity Water’s whole-home carbon tank), or
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) for small bath volumes
Why Eczema Creams Alone Don’t Fix the Problem
Creams soothe the skin, but they don’t remove the irritating minerals and disinfectants your child is exposed to every day:
bath water
handwashing
laundry (sheets, pajamas, towels)
Many parents see temporary relief… only for flare-ups to return after the next bath.
What Dermatologists Say About Treating Eczema
Dermatologists emphasize that long-term eczema management requires reducing environmental triggers, not just applying creams.
The National Eczema Association notes that hard water binds with soap, leaving a residue that irritates sensitive skin and weakens the barrier.
Read the full article here:
Why Saskatoon’s Water Matters for Families Struggling with Eczema
For many parents, the connection between Saskatoon’s water and their child’s eczema becomes clearer once they understand how hardness and chloramine affect sensitive skin.
With hardness levels around 170–196 mg/L and chloramine reaching 2.4 mg/L, Saskatoon’s tap water can be a real irritant for sensitive skin.
Reducing water-based triggers often leads to:
calmer bath time
fewer flare-ups
moisturizers working better
better nights for your child (and you)
Parents often find that once water irritants are reduced, everything else — creams, routines, and products — suddenly works better.
Bath & Laundry Tips That Actually Help
Bathing Tips
Keep baths short and lukewarm
Avoid fragrances and harsh soaps
Pat dry instead of rubbing
Moisturize while skin is still damp
Laundry Tips
Use fragrance-free detergents
Add an extra rinse cycle
Prioritize sheets, pajamas, towels
Avoid fabric softeners
These steps help, but they don’t change the water.
The Real Fix: Reduce Water Irritants at the Source
Here’s where Serenity Water’s Complete Home Care Package makes a meaningful difference.
Water Softener:
✔ Removes hardness minerals ✔ Prevents soap film buildup ✔ Helps restore the skin barrier
Activated Carbon Tank:
✔ Reduces chloramine and chlorine ✔ Lowers chemical by-products (THMs, HAAs) ✔ Minimizes irritants for sensitive skin
Reverse Osmosis System:
✔ Clean, pure drinking water ✔ Removes heavy metals and contaminants ✔ Better-tasting, pH-balanced water
The Serenity Water Complete Care Package (Parents Love This)
Every system we install includes our Complete Care Package, designed to give Saskatoon families total peace of mind. Because when you’re dealing with sensitive skin, the last thing you need is more stress.
Our Care Package includes:
Free annual service & inspections
Filter change reminders (so you never forget)
Priority support whenever you need help
Lifetime warranty
Professional installation include
This means you not only get cleaner, softer, skin-friendly water…You also get long-term support so your system keeps performing the way your family needs it to.
Parents tell us the Care Package is one of the biggest reasons they choose Serenity Water, because it feels like having a trusted specialist on their side, year after year.
What Saskatoon Families Are Saying
Parents often report:
fewer eczema flare-ups
smoother, calmer skin
less post-bath itching
softer laundry
moisturizers finally working effectively
While water treatment isn’t a medical cure, reducing daily irritants can make a noticeable difference.
Serenity Water: Your Local Water Experts
At Serenity Water, we’re parents too. We know the frustration of:
trying every cream on the shelf
late-night itching and tears
your child scratching until their skin breaks
doing everything “right” and still seeing flare-ups
We’ve lived that cycle, and we’re passionate about helping Saskatoon families uncover the hidden triggers in their water so their children can finally get relief.
Ready to Support Your Child’s Skin at the Source?
Book your free water assessment today. Let’s uncover what’s really in your tap, and help give your child the comfort they deserve.
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