[Steam-engine] Hard water

[Richard Strobel]

  Howdy all;
Well the boiler inspector should be out sometime this week and am ready for 
him.  Can't wait!!!  The fusible plug came out easily and with a little 
blasting it cleaned up nicely.  Looks like 1" npt.  Not allowed to reuse 
this, right?..if so why is that and do they need to be changed at an 
interval?

  Out here in the sticks, we have pretty hard water. What is the accepted 
method for treating this water to reduce mineral deposits, scale and such?

Thanks in anticipation!!

RickinMt.