Did
you know?
Reverse osmosis is the finest water filtration method known. This process will
allow the removal of particles as small as ions from a solution. It is used
to purify water and remove salts and other impurities in order to improve the
color, taste or properties of the fluid. R.O. uses a membrane that is semi-permeable,
allowing the fluid that is being purified to pass through it, while rejecting
other ions and contaminants from passing. This technology uses a process
known as crossflow to allow the r.o. membrane to continually clean itself. This
is the reason of why an r.o. element can last many years before clogging or
need replacement. This
water purification process requires a driving force to push the fluid through
the membrane, and the most common force is household water pressure or pressure
from a booster pump. The higher the pressure, the larger the driving force and
efficiency.
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Why does hard
water constitute a problem?
Actually
hardness is a source of many problems. One important trouble area is the
way hardness minerals react with soaps and detergents.
So important is this
aspect of the hardness problem that hardness is sometimes defined as "the
effect of certain elements which combine with soap to form an insoluble
material known as curd."
The list of elements
that possess this property of hardness include iron, copper and manganese,
all present normally in relatively small quantities. More common, of course,
are calcium and magnesium, which are usually present in significant amounts.
Clothes washed in zero soft water are free of troublesome hard water soap
curd.
For the homemaker water
hardness makes home cleaning operations more difficult.
In the laundry, hard
water leaves soap curd and detergent deposits on fabrics. This dulls colors
and gives a grey or yellow appearance to white fabrics. Also hard water
soap curd clings to fabric fibers, causing threads to become brittle and
shortening the life of the material.
Hard water wastes soap and
synthetic detergents.
Hard water leaves unsightly
soap scum rings in the bathtub.
Hard water spots and streaks
glassware and dishes.
Hard water builds up scale
deposits in all water-using appliances, clogs hot water pipes.
Even more important to the homemaker and to her entire family hard water hampers
good grooming efforts.
HARD
WATER SCALE
Scale is one of the
most serious problems caused by hardness mineral deposits. This particular
by-product of water hardness puts many water-using appliances out of service.
It clogs hot water pipes and can sharply reduce the heating efficiency
of a boiler or water heater. When hard water is heated, scale is formed.
This is due to (1) the breakdown of calcium and magnesium bicarbonates,
(2) their reversion to the highly insoluble carbonate forms, (3) their
precipitation from the water, and (4) their concentration on the interior
surfaces of the water heater.
Under certain conditions
the deposits form sludges. Both sludges and scale can lead to a sharp
reduction in operating efficiency.
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HARDNESS
(Concentrations In gpg)
| WHITE |
LESS
THAN 3.5 |
| GRAY |
3.5
- 7 |
|
BLACK |
MORE
THAN 7 |
Many cities
across the U.S. have started to ban traditional water softeners from their
communities even though they have hard water. These ion-exchange systems
use large amounts of salt, which is then flushed down the drain and harms
the environment. Sanitary departments are then forced to build treatment
plants to remove the salt and they in-turn pass these costs down to the
consumer through higher monthly water bills. Thus many cities have decided
that it is not worth the cost and effort and have banned the use of salt-based
water softeners altogether.
Salt-free
water softeners are a better solution. These systems use catalytic conversion
to safely soften water without the use of salts and are much better for
our environment and local waterways. Salt-free water softeners deliver
all the benefits of traditional water softeners and are approved for use
by every community.
Water
Softeners & Conditioners
No
Salt, No Mess, No Scale - No Problem
Healthy and Convenient!
Our Featured Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System
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