Traditional Water Softening
A technology more than 100 years old, water ‘softeners’ use resin beads and salt or potassium to force an exchange of elements or “ion-exchange” wherein water is stripped of beneficial minerals. Minerals like calcium leave the water in exchange for sodium or potassium ions provided by the salt entering the water and or ‘rinsing’ the resin beads. This chemical exchange “softens” the water, attempting to mitigate the effects of hard water deposits in indoor plumbing and fixtures.
As effective as these systems can be, they aren’t a good solution. When functioning properly, water softeners can mitigate the effects of hard water in exchange for inconveniences. Most soft water users notice a “slippery” or “slimy” feel when showering or washing off soaps and detergents. Understandably, many households have historically been willing to tolerate this oily feel of soft water in exchange for ‘softened’ water.
Slimy water, however, isn’t the only byproduct of water softeners. The most concerning effects of soft water occurs on a larger scale. All of the salt or potassium that consumers regularly load into their softeners eventually makes its way down our drains. It’s finding its way into our municipal, gray water, and drinking water supplies. It wears on waste water treatment plants, destroys parks and gardens (where reclaimed water is used for vegetation) and eventually makes its way back into our water table.
Fortunately, old technology is making way for newer, more advanced solutions. HWC’s ChemfreH2O technology allows you to enjoy the benefits of softened water without the undesirable trade-offs.
