Water Softener:
Water softener systems reduce the hardness of water by replacing the hardness minerals - calcium and magnesium ions (other cat ions will be removed as well) - with another ion, frequently sodium. Hard water creates unsightly scale on water fixtures; coats water heating elements causing power loss and increased electricity consumption; wastes soap by reducing its lathering ability, and it leaves a residue on your skin and hair. Very hard water can also cause premature clogging in reverse osmosis membranes. Water is considered slightly hard if it has between 1-3.5 grains per gallon (gpg) of hardness minerals, moderately hard 3.5-7gpg, hard 7-10.5gpg, and very hard 10.5+ gpg.
|
|
Reverse Osmosis:
Water pressure is used to force water molecules through a very fine membrane leaving the contaminants behind. Purified water is collected from the "clean" or “permeate” side of the membrane, and water containing the concentrated contaminants is flushed down the drain from the "contaminated" or “concentrate” side. The average RO system is a unit consisting of a sediment/chlorine pre filter, the reverse-osmosis membrane, a storage tank, and an activated-carbon post filter.
Reverse osmosis removes salt and most other inorganic material present in the water, and for that reason, RO lends itself to use in places where the drinking water is brackish (salty), contains nitrates or other dissolved minerals which are difficult to remove by other methods.
|
|
