What is the difference between filtering and softening water?
Filtering water involves removing small particles or gasses like sediment, manganese, iron, chlorine, or hydrogen sulfide from the water. The filter traps these particles (in sizes as small as 10 microns), and clean water travels through the bed. Periodically the filter must be backwashed, so the unit has to be taken off-line and the flow of water through the filter is reversed. The reverse flow of water is directed to a drain and the trapped sediment is rinsed out. When completed, the filter is again ready to work. Softening water involves a process called “ion exchange” to remove dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron that are too small to be trapped in a filter. Water softeners use polystyrene resin beads for this process. As water enters the tank, the resin attracts the dissolved calcium and magnesium ions, removing them from the water supply. Eventually the resin beads will be unable to remove more calcium and magnesium minerals and will require regeneration. The reg
