LISLE, IL — Fifteen months of use in hard-water conditions will reduce the energy efficiency of an instantaneous, or “tankless,” hot water heater by 6 percent compared with its use in soft water, the Water Quality Association (WQA) said in a June 26 press release, quoting preliminary results of a Battelle Memorial Institute study.

WQA also announced June 26 that an independent testing firm will look into the effect hard water has on the operation of household equipment such as low-flow faucets, clothes washers and dishwashers.

Earlier in June, the Battelle institute, an independent research organization, had released other preliminary results of its work, showing the effect of hard water on showerheads. Its final report is expected to be completed in September.

All of the research is being funded by the Water Quality Research Foundation, WQA’s non-profit entity set up to fund research into water quality issues.

WQA believes the research will show that use of soft water has a “green” effect in many household appliances, that is, it helps maintain those devices’ energy efficiency, reduces soap consumption and waste, and reduces water consumption. Many of WQA’s members produce and sell water softeners to the residential, commercial and industrial markets and believe that any possible drawbacks of softeners, such as chloride discharges, are far outweighed by their environmental benefits.

To read the full press release, click here.

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