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 yes, kind of, but in reality, the concept is a little more involved and not easy to grasp unless you have a basic grounding in water softening systems. Water softeners are designed to remove dissolved minerals that have been added to the makeup of the water. This is important because these can cause an accumulation of calcium carbonate (scale) that narrows water carrying pipes and coats heating elements. This will damage plumbing systems and water using appliances and the expected lifespan of these systems is lowered. But, there are many more problems related to hard water use that we will cover later in this article. Let’s take a closer look at how a water softener works and the minerals that it can remove.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water affects most Canadian homes to varying degrees. The severity of the problem in any specific area can vary depending on a number of factors, including geographic features, rainfall frequency, iron deposits, and more. Many people are not aware that water acts as a universal solvent and it can dissolve many materials that it comes into contact with. Water initially falls as rain, it soaks into the ground, or it runs along the ground and into surface water sources. In both cases, the water will come into contact with soil and mineral deposits which are dissolved and added to the makeup of the water. This is why bottled mineral water is sourced from areas that have high levels of certain minerals that are beneficial for health.
There are three minerals that cause the water to become hard, they are calcium, magnesium, and, to a lesser extent, iron. The most obvious sign is the accumulation of scale on the plumbing fixtures and fittings. This hard and chalky substance is hard to clean away without an application of vinegar and it will always return unless the underlying cause is removed.
Another consequence of hard water is poor cleaning results when showering, washing fabrics, and using the dishwasher. Hard water minerals inhibit the formation of soap suds that are needed to deliver the cleaning power to the items that you want to clean. Adding more soap or detergent is ineffective, and hard water using homes tend to spend far too much money on cleaning products. Fabrics tend to be dull and brittle when they are washed in hard water because the minerals tangle at the base of the fabric fibers. Glasses and dishware may be spotted and cloudy as the hard water etches the surfaces. When we shower in hard water, the dried minerals stick to our skin and hair, leading to breakouts and those dreaded bad hair days.
Can I Get Sick After Drinking Hard Water?
No, there are no health problems associated with drinking hard water or eating food that has been washed or cooked in hard water. The main issues are related to the scale that can cause the aforementioned problems in the home.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
There are a number of water softener systems on the market, but the most reliable options use an ion-exchange process. This will be the focus of this article as we describe how a water softener works. Bearing this in mind, there are two main parts that make the ion-exchange process possible. They are the brine tank and the resin tank.
The Brine Tank
This is located near the resin tank for easy access, and the purpose is to create and store a brine solution to facilitate the regeneration process. This is where the water softener salt is added and replaced as needed. When regeneration is needed, a message is sent from the control valve to the brine tank to release the brine solution. This may occur at a pre-programmed time, but modern systems use a demand-initiated system to improve efficiency.
The Resin Tank
This is where the ion-exchange process takes place, this tank is lined with resin beads that are negatively charged. As the brine solution, which has a positive charge, is added to the tank, the sodium or potassium (salt) ions are added to the surface of the resin beads. The hard water then enters the resin tank, the dissolved minerals have a positive charge too, but it’s stronger than the salt ions. This causes the salt ions to be removed from the resin beads, and the mineral ions are attached to them instead. This system works well, but a gradual accumulation of mineral ions on the surface of the beads will degrade the performance. During the regeneration cycle, the mineral ions are flushed from the surfaces and directed into the drain. Until the cycle is completed, the water softener is bypassed, and hard water is allowed into the home. For this reason, the regeneration cycle usually takes place at night when people are asleep, and the demand for water is much lower.
Is Soft Water Safe to Consume?
Yes, people worry about the salt added to the water during the ion-exchange process, but this takes place on a minuscule scale. People that are extremely vulnerable to salt and those on medically directed low salt diets may notice a difference. An alternative is a potassium-based water softener salt that is more benign than the standard sodium-based products. If you’re concerned about water softening, consult your doctor before you make a commitment.
In Summary
A water softener can remove the dissolved minerals that cause water hardness. But, they cannot remove chemicals, microorganisms, heavy metals, and other contaminants. For this reason, water softeners are usually installed alongside other water filtration systems. To determine which systems you need, it’s a good idea to invest in water testing to understand the makeup of your water supply.
If you want to install a water softener or other filtration system in your home, contact your local water treatment specialist today.