Assistant Editor Maria Woodie’s article, “Addressing hard water and scale with sustainable solutions,” explained some of the negative effects of hard water. Although not considered a health hazard, water dealers should educate their clients about the aesthetic and potential cost- and energy-related concerns associated with hard water. Hardness can cause scale buildup within a delivery system’s pipes and fixtures. This buildup may ultimately decrease the overall efficiency and productivity of the system. While other minerals can impact the quality of water, hard water is mainly a result of high levels of calcium and magnesium.
Hard water can result in the following:
- Aesthetic problems
- Productivity issues, including “soap curd”
- Scale buildup
More about scale
As mentioned, scale can impact the performance and lifespan of faucets, fixtures and appliances. Scale may also reduce the flow of water passing through the delivery system. Several treatment technologies are available that can remove hard water minerals and produce “soft” water — water tested below 1 grain per gallon (gpg) is considered soft. Depending on the quality of the water and the individual needs of the end user, treatment can be accomplished at the point-of-use (POU) and the point-of-entry (POE). These water softening technologies include:
Membrane separation softening (nanofiltration)
- Chemical softening
- Cation exchange softening
- Ion exchange systems
- Physical water treatment systems
- Anti-scale systems
To read the full article, click here.
