How to completely, effectively and simply soften hard water

Total hard water is water that contains both temporary hard water and permanent hard water.

Temporary hard water: water containing Ca2+, Mg2+, (CO3)2-, HCO3- ions. On boiling, bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) decompose into CO2 gas and precipitate CaCO3 and MgCO3.

Permanent hard water: water containing Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, (SO2)4- ions. These ions do not break down with heat, so permanent hard water cannot be softened by boiling.

Composition of total hard water:

? Calcium carbonate (HCO3)2

? magnesium (HCO3)2

? magnesium chloride

? calcium chloride

? magnesium sulfate

? calcium sulfate

The origin of hard water

The hardness of water is mainly caused by the dissolution of minerals in the soil and rock layers in contact with water. The process of forming hard water occurs in the following ways:

When water flows through layers of limestone, gypsum, or chalk, these rocks contain large amounts of calcium and magnesium ions in the form of carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfate compounds. In this process, a small amount of minerals are dissolved and retained by the water, giving the water its hardness.

Groundwater sources tend to have a higher hardness due to the dissolution of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in limestone deposits, etc. as they pass through soil and rock layers, thus increasing the hardness of the water. In addition, water in lakes, rivers and streams also increases hardness for the same reason.

In addition, some industrial and domestic activities also produce hard water due to the dissolution or release of compounds containing calcium and magnesium into natural water sources.

How to identify hard water

In fact, there are many ways to identify hard water. Specifically, you can refer to the following signs to determine if the water source you are using is hard water:

? Because Ca2+, Mg2+ ions bind to carbonate or bicarbonate, white residue sticks to faucets and equipment such as showerheads, kettles, and water heaters.

? difficult to wash, soap difficult to lather, clothes become dull and hard due to hard water, reducing the effectiveness of detergent.

? The water has a bitter taste due to the high Mg2+ content.

? White residue in ice due to hard water.

? Water heaters fail quickly because of scale buildup in hard water.

? The pipe is clogged with a white residue formed by hard water.

Harmful effects of total hard water

Hard water is a common problem that causes significant harm to life and production activities. First, calcium and magnesium ions present in hard water can cause scale to form in pipes and water appliances. This not only degrades performance, but also shortens its service life, causes clogging, and increases maintenance and repair costs.

In terms of health, hard water can create deposits in the body, leading to the risk of kidney stones, gallstones, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to high levels of calcium in the blood. Hard water can also cause indigestion and stomach problems. In everyday life, hard water reduces the effectiveness of soaps and cleaners, making them difficult to lather and less effective at cleaning. It can also leave a white residue on household items, causing hair damage and dry skin.

In the industrial field, hard water is one of the main causes of reduced heat exchange efficiency of equipment, resulting in a lot of energy waste. In addition, it causes corrosion, equipment damage and reduced product quality in many industries such as textiles, paper, food and beverage. In agriculture, hard water can affect nutrient uptake processes in plants, reduce the productivity and quality of produce, and negatively impact irrigation systems.

Complete hard water treatment method

Ion exchange

? Replace Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions with Na+ or H+ ions using ion exchange beads.

? This method is very effective and can treat both temporary and permanent hard water.

? However, this method has a high investment cost and requires regular maintenance.

RO water filtration system

RO (Reverse osmosis) filtration systems are an effective and popular option for softening total hard water. The system works by using an ultra-small RO filtration membrane (approximately 0.0001 micron) combined with various types of filtration materials to remove impurities from water, including Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions.