With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley.
The short answer is no. A water softener is designed to remove the hardness from your incoming water supply and it will not kill harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, pathogens, viruses and cysts. Many people install a water softener in series with other water filtration systems to deal with specific water quality issues. Every home has different water quality issues related to key factors, including location, mineral deposits, agricultural activity, industrial processes, pollution and more. For this reason, we recommend water testing to determine the makeup of the water before any equipment is installed. Contact your local water treatment specialist and they can guide you through this process. Let’s take a closer look at what a water softener is and what it can and cannot do to improve your water quality.
How Does an Ion-Exchange Water Softener Work?
There are few different water softener methods available on the market. But, the only truly reliable method uses an ion-exchange process. A bed filled with small resin media balls that have a positive charge is where this process takes place. The mineral ions are exchanged for salt ions which are softer and easier to use. This takes place on a very small scale which most people cannot notice unless they are very susceptible to salt. The most common water softening salt uses sodium, but there are potassium-based alternatives which are considered to be more benign. Soft water prevents the formation of limescale and soap scum which can wreak havoc on your plumbing systems, appliances, skin, hair, laundry and more.
Can a Water Softener Make My Home Cleaner?
A water softener can improve the cleanliness of your home in a couple of ways. Although a water softener cannot kill microorganisms directly, it will prevent a lot of other problems and it can improve your cleaning results. One of the more annoying characteristics of hard water is that it inhibits the formation of soap suds that we need to deliver cleaning power. The efficacy of soap and detergent is diminished and adding more is ineffective and a waste of money. One of the consequences of the interaction between hard water minerals and soap is the formation of soap scum. This material is a breeding ground for bacteria and it’s hard to remove without scrubbing and an application of white vinegar. If you don’t have hard water, soap scum is a thing of the past and your home will be healthier.
Identifying Bacterial Problems
There are two broad categories of bacteria, they are pathogenic and non-pathogenic. The non-pathogenic bacteria are not harmful to your health and you may even find them in your favorite yogurt or kombucha drinks. The bacteria that we need to be concerned about are pathogenic and exposure to them can make you sick. Both types of bacteria occur naturally in water and the most common bacteria found in water is iron bacteria. Iron bacteria can make the water look red in color, it feeds on iron and it’s non-pathogenic. But, many pathogenic bacterial threats are not as easy to detect with our natural senses, they have no taste, color, or discernible odor. Some of the health effects of bacteria, such as vomiting, stomach aches, a fever, and others, are not immediate. The only way to determine the presence of bacteria in your water is a laboratory water test. A home testing kit is not accurate, you need accurate data if you want to get the best water filtration systems to meet your needs.
This problem is not restricted to rural homes that may use private wells and public water users are a risk too. Although water is disinfected to a basic standard with chlorine and chloramine (chlorine mixed with ammonia to boost the efficacy) problems still occur. Bacterial contamination can take place at any point in the water delivery network due to breaks in the pipes or just from human error at the water treatment plant.
The most common form of bacteria found in our drinking water is coliform bacteria. This bacteria can be found in the digestive tracts of humans and animals and it’s present in soil and plants too. Coliform bacteria are non-pathogenic in nature, but their presence is a good indicator that pathogenic bacteria may be present. If the water was truly clean and free from bacteria there would be no coliform bacteria present. For this reason, a coliform bacteria test is cheap, readily available, and easy to perform. This test is referred to as a “total coliform” and if coliform bacteria are present this is known as a “total coliform positive” result. Analyzing coliform with a fecal test is only required if the water has been exposed to human or animal fecal matter from a leaking septic tank or nearby agricultural activity. There is no concentration of fecal coliform bacteria that is regarded as healthy in your drinking water.
How Can I Remove Bacteria?
To remove the bacteria from your incoming water it’s a good idea to install your own water filtration and purification systems. Two popular choices are UV (ultraviolet) lights and reverse osmosis (RO) filtration systems. The UV lights disrupt the DNA of any bacteria in the water which prevents them from replicating which is the main threat to your health. The RO filter is a semi-permeable membrane with pores that are so small that only water molecules can pass through. The RO filter can remove the chlorine if you don’t like that “swimming pool” taste and odor and up to 99% of all bacteria is removed.
Is the Water Softener Susceptible to Bacteria?
Yes, a water softener can be contaminated with bacteria, but it can be sanitized and restored to a healthy state quickly. Remove the brine tank lid, add a cup of bleach and run a manual regeneration cycle to kill the bacteria. If you’re not sure about this process consult the owner’s manual for more information. Don’t use the water until the regeneration cycle has been fully completed or you may ingest bleach. After the process is complete, run the water for 5-10 minutes to remove any residual bleach that may be lingering in the system.
If you want healthier and softer water for your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.