Water Softener

Water softening is the process of eliminating ions that cause hardness in water, most commonly calcium and magnesium ions. During the softening process, iron ions may also be removed. Rainwater and distilled water are often gentle because they contain few ions. Because the water comes in direct contact with minerals that can be dissolved, hard water is commonly found in groundwater (wells). Surface water bodies (lakes, rivers, and streams) are typically soft with very low degrees of hardness.

Water softening  : A critical need.

Hard water is generally not harmful to one’s health, but it can cause serious plumbing problems in both residential and commercial settings. Water hardness is a serious issue that impacts everything from the formation of suds while bathing and washing to the costly breakdowns of boilers, cooling towers, and other water-handling equipment.

Hard water is notorious for blocking pipes and making soap and detergent dissolve in water more difficult. The most effective technique to soften water is to use a water softener that is directly connected to the water source. Hard water in domestic water systems raises the risk of lime scale deposition. The buildup of lime scale causes pipes to clog, reducing the efficiency of hot boilers and tanks.

As a result, domestic water heating expenditures will climb by around 15% to 20%.Another problem of lime scale is that it damages household appliances, such as washing machines.

The working mechanism of water softeners

Water softeners are ion exchangers designed to remove positively charged ions from water.For this purpose, negative-charged ion exchange resin is utilized. Softeners predominantly remove calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions. Calcium and magnesium are called ‘hardness minerals.’

Iron is sometimes removed with softeners. Softeners can be set to work manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Each type is rated based on how much hardness it can eliminate.