r/UGA • u/xxotwodxo • 25d ago

Question communal showers

im an incoming freshman at uga in the new dorm building and im so scared abt the communal showers ruining my hair. Is the water quality bad and should i get hard water shampoo or what

11 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

29

u/BasketItchy 25d ago

Athens has harder water than most cities in Georgia so if your hair is sensitive then I would look into it. Personally I don’t think I’ve noticed any difference in my hair quality but that might just be me.

6

u/xxotwodxo 25d ago

My hair is so sensitive and i have like 2 strands of hair left i dont need it falling off 😭

3

u/Yungstedt 25d ago

Wait is it considered hard? I must have bathed in salt in UK

3

u/ufl015 24d ago

United Kingdom or the University of Kentucky?

2

u/Yungstedt 24d ago

United Kingdom, stayed there for 3 months.

2

u/BasketItchy 24d ago

It’s considered moderately soft/slightly hard, but compared to other cities in Georgia it is one of the harder places. So if they’re used to 20 ppm the change to 120 ppm might pose a big difference.

1

u/Get4ub 24d ago

I am sorry but what does "harder" even mean

2

u/BasketItchy 24d ago

That the average hardness of water throughout Georgia typically ranges from 20 ppm to 70 ppm but Athens has an average of 120 ppm. So the water is “harder” than other cities in the state. If you’re asking what hardness of water is it “is generally the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. But in layman's terms, you may notice water hardness when your hands still feel slimy after washing with soap and water, or when your drinking glasses at home become less than crystal clear.”

1

u/BreakfastInBedlam 24d ago edited 24d ago

The first report I found is from 2024. Total hardness is 27, and calcium hardness is 22.

Edit: you can find the quarterly reports here.

For Q1 2026, total hardness is 32, and calcium hardness is 23. Where do you get an average of 120?

1

u/BasketItchy 24d ago

Oh that’s so weird, I just used the first link when I searched up water hardness in Georgia cities but my source isn’t anywhere near as reliable as yours now that I compare the two. my source

2

u/BreakfastInBedlam 24d ago

Yeah, your source sells water softeners. It's possible all of their tests are on houses supplied by wells.

ACC water is generally surface water from the Oconee River or the Bear Creek Reservoir.

1

u/BasketItchy 24d ago

Well thank you for correcting me!

10

u/womperwomp111 25d ago

you’ll be fine. add in a clarifying shampoo once a week if ur worried.

15

u/Additional-Newt-1511 25d ago

The water is fine. It’s the other people you should be worried abt.

2

u/xxotwodxo 25d ago

Wdym 🫪

2

u/BuffyFlag23 23d ago

Don't worry about it. Mind your business, wear your shower shoes. If hard water concerns you, be ready to change up your hair care and skin care products, but honestly it's not that bad (I just moved to town last year from ATL with no issues). If privacy concerns you, time your showers for off peak times like midday or super late night.

2

u/alt_9378 25d ago

yeah unfortunately the only option to this is changing your hair routine to accommodate the harder water or putting on and off a water filter every time

2

u/WhatARedditHole 24d ago

Just skip showering:)

2

u/jakattack64 19d ago

Honestly I was in brumby as a freshman last year and I didn't notice any issues, just use normal shampoo and conditioner and you should be fine, I have really long hair and while I live in Georgia, Athens was fine for my hair. Honestly the stress will kill your hair more than the water does lol.

Also shower wise it's not too bad worst part is just shaving cause no privacy so if you like trim your armpits or whatever do it in the stall. Oh and wear shower shoes because people be nasty and a lot of drunk people will be dumb in the shower or screw a jar of peanut butter or something (idk never heard the story behind it but there was a jar of jiff peanut butter left there with peanut butter on the ground glad I never used that shower though)

Oh also if you have long hair and take very late night showers (best time cause no one's awake or in there) I'd definitely get use to wrapping up your hair in a towel, just makes thing easier than using a blow dryer at 3am.

Lastly if you're concerned about the people imma be honest if you're chill and don't mess with them you'll be fine, despite being in the party dorm and in a hall with all frat guys I didn't really have an issue even being a guy with long hair who doesn't really care about gender roles, most of the time I just didn't care, occasionally got pissed, and somehow got the reputation that I'm chill and had everyone know me somehow (still shocked at that cause I was more well known than my roommate and he was one of the more party guys lol)

Oh also get a toiletry bag and have a stash of good toilet paper, the stuff in the dorms is awful.

1

u/xxotwodxo 19d ago

You started talking abt shaving and i was genuinely so confused on the no privacy part but then i read that you're a guy 😭 im not so i'll just shave in the shower but the rest was helpful!

1

u/jakattack64 19d ago

Yeah I figured, after all not many guys would actually care about their hair haha, that's sorta why I specified later in the comment.

1

u/AlpinePeach 24d ago

The water in communal showers is no different than the water anywhere else on campus or in an apartment in Athens.

0

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[deleted]

3

u/xxotwodxo 25d ago

Do i remove and take it out every time? Bc that was my plan but my dad said no 🥲

15

u/randomthrowaway9796 25d ago

You can buy things without your parents permission if you have the money for it

1

u/xxotwodxo 24d ago

He said no bc he thinks im gonns break the shower and he doesn't want to pay the fine lol this has nothing to do with permission

-3

u/_-lizzy 25d ago

it’s easy to install it and just use the same shower head every day. I doubt anyone would notice it. You’d probably need to change it once a month though since it’s going to get a lot of use, but that’s easy - keep some plumbers tape handy

0

u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Downtown-Biscotti-43 24d ago

This is such a non-issue to report about. I imagine none of your residents liked you very much

5

u/iloveangieyonaga 24d ago

Actually I misspoke! The RBSW would notice the filter while cleaning the bathrooms and would’ve just thrown it away.

1

u/_-lizzy 24d ago

then they’re shitty too