I thought about it when I had an anecdotal experience of having calcium build up on my nortons. I stay strictly with distilled water. If the stone were designed to take on more minerals I thing they would say so. Just my thoughts, but some people have enough money they can buy, so it is a moot point to them, but maybe not to the blades edge. Additional minerals that were not there before could result is a faster cut or a dulling hone. Now some probably don't experience this, and for that I think they should be grateful. Me. I ain't taken a chance cause I ain't got dat kind o monay.