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Hard Water--To Soften Or Not to Soften

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Hard Water--To Soften Or Not to Soften IP-7 WATER QUALITY in KENTUCKY Hard Water—To Soften or Not to Soften inerals that cause hard water have Half of each group exclusively used the Another study conducted at Ohio Ma wide impact on households. areas untreated hard water. The other State University showed that using Hard water interferes with almost every half exclusively used softened water. softened water in certain household cleaning task from laundering and Results of the study showed that water tasks lessened the time necessary to dishwashing to bathing and personal heaters using only hard water consumed complete the tasks, allowed for easier grooming. Clothes laundered in hard more energy than those using only cleaning, and contributed to savings in water may look dingy and feel harsh softened water. the amount of household cleaning and scratchy. Dishes and glasses The researchers removed and products used. If these items are washed in hard water may become weighed the sediment and scale important to you, consider softening spotted as they dry. Hard water may accumulated in each of the water water in your household. cause a film on glass shower doors, heaters. The water heaters using shower walls, and bathtubs. Hair softened water contained scale buildup Measure of Hardness washed in hard water may feel sticky weighing from 1.09 lb to 4.27 lb. The Calcium and magnesium ions and look dull. group using hard water contained scale present as sulfates, chlorides, carbon- Hard water also affects the perfor- buildup weighing from 3.86 lb to ates, and bicarbonates cause water to be mance of household appliances. almost 40 lb. hard. Water chemists measure water Researchers at New Mexico State Accumulated scale is a poor conduc- impurities in parts per million (ppm), University studied the effects of water tor of heat. In water heaters, accumu- but water hardness is often expressed in quality on the performance of residen- lated scale insulates the water from the grains of hardness per gallon of water tial gas and electric water heaters. The heat source. The New Mexico study (gpg). The two systems can be con- one-year study measured the energy demonstrated that water heaters with verted mathematically. Table 1 gives consumption of six residential gas and scale buildup used more energy to common classifications for hard water electric water heaters in use for five to deliver a given amount of hot water with values listed in both parts per 15 years in Las Cruces, New Mexico. than heaters without scale buildup. million and grains per gallon. One grain of hardness is the amount of calcium Figure 1. Generalized hardness (in grains/gallon) of Kentucky’s groundwater. and magnesium equal in weight to a kernel of wheat. Water Hardness (mg/L) Slightly hard (17.1-60) Moderately hard (60-120 mg/L) Hard (120-180 mg/L) Very hard (>180 mg/L) Map prepared by the Kentucky Geological Survey. Hardness classifications are based on averages by county of data in the Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, March, 2001. Table 1. Hard Water Classifications. and the return to service. water softeners, look for equipment Classifications ppm grains/gallon 3. Automatic. The owner stops the unit that carries the seal from the Water Soft 0 - 17 0 -1 when recharging is necessary. All Quality Association (WQA), Slightly hard 17 - 60 1 - 3.5 subsequent steps in recharging National Sanitation Foundation Moderately hard 60 - 120 3.5 - 7.0 follow automatically. (NSF), or Underwriters Laborato- Hard 120 - 180 7.0 - 10.5 4. Fully automatic. The unit operates ries, Inc. (UL). A seal from any of Very hard Above 180 Above 10.5 with a timer, and all operations are these organizations indicates that the activated automatically. The system equipment has been independently has enough softening material for tested to industry performance Water supply companies and local multiple regenerations, but more standards. health departments can give you an must be added periodically as indication of how hard the water is in required. Questions and Answers about your area. Figure 1 gives a general Water Softening Selecting a Water Softener indication of water hardness across the Should everyone use softened state. Buying a water softener requires water? comparison shopping and investigation. People who have heart or circulatory How to Reduce Hardness Here are some hints to help as you problems or who are on low sodium shop: You can reduce water hardness by diets may not want to soften their water, A typical household water softener buying or renting a water softening tank or they may want to soften only their costs around $1,000 to $1,800. and connecting it to your water supply hot water. The latter option defeats the Monthly operating expenses range line. Softening hard water typically purpose of a water softener because the from $2 to $8 if sodium is used and involves the use of an ion exchange dishwasher is the only household from $3 to $15 if potassium is used. water softener. In this process, the appliance in which hot water alone is Buy only from a reputable dealer. Be water passes through a bed of softening used. People with heart or circulatory wary of door-to-door sales offers. material, usually sulfonated polystyrene problems should discuss this question Decide on a system only after you beads, which are micro-porous. The with a physician. Three alternative have considered the cost of the beads are supersaturated with sodium to methods are available to reduce sodium equipment and its installation and cover both their exterior and interior in softened water: reverse osmosis, have obtained an approximation of surfaces, thus having the ability to take distillation, and deionization. on or give up electrical charges. operating costs. Expensive units are The ion exchange process takes sometimes called water treatment In addition to the sodium, is place as the hard water passes through systems but may be only glorified softened water harmful in other the softening material. The calcium and softeners. ways? magnesium attach themselves to the Check the warranty. Be sure you Water contains trace elements of resin beads while the sodium in the understand it. Warranties may be for vital minerals found only in minute resin beads is released into the water. only one year or a lifetime. Again, quantities in the human body. These The process occurs billions of times avoid both extremes. A dependable tiny amounts have a profound effect on during softening. Eventually, so much warranty could be for 10 years on human health. Researchers have found hardness collects on the softening the tank and five years on the control conflicting results relating the mineral material that the unit can no longer valves. content of water to the risk of cardio- soften the water, and recharging is If installation fees are included in the vascular disease. The risk appears necessary. The softening material is price, be sure that there are no lowest when the drinking water washed automatically with a brine further charges for bypassing lawn contains lots of minerals and highest solution to replace the sodium and and garden water systems, replenish- when the water is soft. Consumers may enable the ion exchange process to ing swimming pools, etc. want to consider installing a bypass to continue. Be certain that you understand the method and cost of recharging the the kitchen water supply for cooking Types of Water Softeners system. and drinking. Ask dealers for names of customers. Softened water increases the Water softeners are classified in four Check with these customers to learn potential for leaching heavy metal from different categories: if they are satisfied with the equip- pipes, solder, and plumbing fixtures. 1. Manual. The owner starts and stops ment and service. Ask friends who Increased levels of copper, lead, zinc, all steps in recharging the unit. have invested in water softening and cadmium are found in soft water, 2. Semi-automatic. The owner starts equipment for advice. particularly when it stands overnight in the steps manually except for the When purchasing any type of water the plumbing system. Heavy metal automatic termination of the rinse treatment equipment, including concentrations can exceed Environmen- 2 tal Protection Agency (EPA) primary Conclusion Answers: An A-Z Guide for Media drinking water standards, particularly Inquiry. No. 72-200-A, 1985. Using softened water has many for water standing overnight in brass Ehrenkranz, Florence and Lydia L. advantages. You can expect cleaner, plumbing fixtures and faucets. Inman. 1973. Equipment in the softer-feeling clothes, use a lesser Home. 3rd ed., pp. 313-315. New amount of household cleaning products Is softened water harmful to plants, York: Harper and Row. such as detergents, save on personal lawns, and gardens? Jones, Elmer. 1984. Water Quality cleanliness products such as shampoo, Improvements for Farmstead and Softened water is not recommended and have easier maintenance and Rural Home Water Systems. Wash- for watering plants, lawns, and gardens upkeep of your home. You can also ington, D.C.: USDA Farmers due to its sodium content. Care must expect longer life for appliances, Bulletin. No. 2274. also be taken that water used in including washing machines, dishwash- Lyle, Dorothy. 1977. Performance of recharging a water softener be disposed ers, and water heaters. Textiles. pp. 287-292. New York: of through a storm drain or sewer Softening household water supplies John Wiley & Sons, Inc. because of its damaging effects. If you is not a decision to be made lightly. Pettyjohn, W.A., J.R.J. Studlick, R.C. are on a septic tank, the logical method Factors to consider are family composi- Bain, J.H. Lehr. 1974. A Groundwa- of disposal is to discharge the brine into tion, stage in the family life cycle, ter Quality Atlas of the U.S.
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