Softening water is through ion exchange. The best exchange will also be affected by the pH level of your water. The resin in the softener will attract calcium and magnesium (small amounts of iron and manganese). When this resin become “full” unable to attract additional minerals, then the softener will go through a regeneration process. By adding a brine solution (NACL) to the resin tank, the softener will release the calcium and magnesium in exchange for sodium (NA). The Chlorine (CL), Calcium and Magnesium will be washed down the drain.  This recharged resin will now be able to new attract calcium and magnesium again.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that uses a partially permeable membrane to remove ions, unwanted molecules and larger particles from drinking water. Reverse osmosis can remove many types of dissolved and suspended chemical species as well as biological ones (principally bacteria) from water, and is used in both industrial processes and the production of great, pure drinking water. Our RO removes everything to .0002 microns.

Water that has a high mineral (dissolved) content – usually calcium and magnesium, iron and manganese.  These are measured in grains per gallon (gpg), but can be reported in numerous volumes (ppm, mgl, we have a conversation chart on the hard water page).  Slightly hard is 1.0-3.5 gpg, Moderately Hard is 3.5 – 7.0, Hard is 7.0 – 10.5 and Extremely Hard is >10.5.  Most of our municipal water is 20-30 gpg and local well water can range from 28-150 gpg.  A single softener can remove up to 60 gpg, above that hardness, a dual pass is required.

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant for most public water. Lately Public Water Suppliers are adding Ammonia to lengthen the disinfection time of chlorine.  Chlorine and Chlorine/Ammonia is both a savior and problem. This saves millions of people from waterborne diseases, like cholera, dysentery and typhoid, but chlorine is toxic and its byproducts produce know cancer causing side effects, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic acid (HAAs). To remove the sides effects of Chlorine/Chloramine please install a Catalytic Carbon tank.

Yes, how often depends on the type of water you have. City water will have a quality report, but this is at the plant, testing what is coming into your home is good practice and should be done every 5 years. Well water should be tested every 6-12 months depending on the age of the well. Wells change all the time. Rainwater should be tested every year. You should have a UV light in your treatment, that light should be changed every 12 months, this is a good time to test the water.