'Same with me and this is the fix I used.....
I have very hard water as well, as other member of SRP can tell you, from all my compaining on the site I mean. As I use well water it varys in hardness from very to cut this stuff with a knife. So I started using bottled water, distilled, from wally world[Wal-Mart] and heating about 9oz in the microwave till very very hot and use that to build my later and it makes ALL the difference in the world. Its does make my shaving routine just that much more time consuming, BUT I'M WORTH IT, ARENT YOU!
Of course you are we all are, so pick up a gallon today and find out just what I"m talking about. But it still does take more than a few seconds to build up your lather to the right balance of air and oils to wet up the beard.
I hope this helps a bit, it did for me and a few others.
Your loyal servent, tinkersd of SRP.