What is water softening?
When water contains a significant amount of calcium and magnesium, it is called hard water. Hard water is known to clog pipes and to complicate soap and detergent dissolving in water. Water softening is a technique that serves the removal of the ions that cause the water to be hard, in most cases calcium and magnesium ions. Iron ions may also be removed during softening. The best way to soften water is to use a water softener unit and connect it directly to the water supply.
Hard water contains a significant amount of calcium and magnesium, which clogs pipes and makes it difficult for soap and detergent to dissolve in the water properly. Water softening is the process of removing calcium and magnesium ions, or contaminants from surface water or groundwater to make it safe and useable for human consumption. In some cases, iron ions are also removed during the softening process. To obtain soft water, people use water softener units, which are connected directly to the water supply and contain water softener salt for the water to pass through.
Water softening uses the principles of ion exchange. The calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium ions. Sodium does not precipitate out into the pipes nor does it react badly with soap. To accomplish the ion replacement, the water in the house runs through a bed of resin beads covered with sodium ions. As the water flows past the sodium ions, they swap places with the hardness causing ions. When the beads have a low concentration of sodium ions left, it can no longer soften the water. At this point regeneration begins. Back-flushing with saltwater recharges the resin bed. The resulting saltwater and mineral ion solution is then rinsed away, and the resin beads are ready to start the process all over again. .
