Is Hard Water A Problem?
Water harness, while often overlooked, can be an unexpectedly expensive issue for both households and businesses. The accumulation of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in water can result in a multitude of problems. These minerals can clog pipes and reduce water flow, leading to higher energy consumption and ultimately inflated utility bills. Additionally, the harsh minerals can cause a buildup of scale in appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing their efficiency and lifespan. The constant need for repairs, maintenance, and replacement of appliances burden both domestic and commercial budgets. Unchecked water hardness can also impact the longevity of plumbing systems, resulting in costly plumbing repairs and replacements. Therefore, investing in an effective water softening solution becomes imperative to mitigate these expenses and ensure a smoother running and more cost-efficient water system.
How Does A Water Softener Work?
The resin inside the mineral tank is specially designed to remove dissolved hardness particles of calcium and magnesium, by a simple ion exchange process. The resin beads inside the softener tank have a
different or opposite electrical charge than the dissolved particles, or ions, of the incoming water. Because of this electrical charge difference, the dissolved particles suspended in your water will cling to the resin beads on contact, thereby ridding the water of these particles, causing the water exiting the unit to be “soft”. The resin has a limit to how much of these hardness particles it can hold, which is why there are many different sizes of softeners and also why regeneration or brining is required.
What Is Hardness (Hard Water)?
Hardness is defined as the concentration of calcium and magnesium in the water, which is expressed in terms of calcium carbonate. Calcium Carbonate in water from the Edwards and the Trinity Aquifers is naturally occurring. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves small amounts of minerals that make water “hard.” Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, the National Research Council (National Academy of Sciences) states that hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium human dietary needs. The typical hardness in the water provided by SAWS ranges from 15 to 20 gpg (grains per gallon).
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis, often referred to as RO, is an advanced water purification method that was initially developed by the U.S. Navy to produce drinking water from seawater for submarine crews. It is a membrane filtration technology that works by forcing water under pressure through the very tiny pores of a semi-permeable membrane. Modern reverse osmosis units for the home combine membrane technology with carbon and mechanical filtration to produce highly purified, great-tasting water.
Why Is Chlorine Added To The Water?
Chlorine is added to public drinking water to keep the water free of bacteria as it is delivered to our customers. Chlorine assures the water will be bacteria free as it travels through the many miles of water mains. SAWS adds approximately 1.0 part chlorine per 1million parts of water (1 PPM*) at our production facilities. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires that public water suppliers maintain a minimum of 0.2 PPM Cl2 in the water. The maximum amount of Cl2 allowed is 4 PPM. SAWS provides our customers with a safe water supply.