| In many North American cities, it is naturally occurring | | | | into the environment each year. In some US cities as |
| ground water sources that supply our households with | | | | much as 42% of homeowners own a water softener. |
| water. In places where the bedrock is soft limestone, | | | | You can begin to understand the quantity of salt being |
| the water dissolves some of this rock creating "hard" | | | | discharged by water softeners and the environmental |
| water. In some places, the water is so hard that the | | | | impact this represents. |
| deposition of this mineral content on household | | | | On top of the environmental impact of this very old |
| plumbing fixtures, hot water tanks, coffee pots, | | | | technology, water softeners can be a nuisance for |
| dishwashers and other places renders many of these | | | | several other reasons. Since they consume so much |
| devices unusable in short order. Hard water also | | | | salt, homeowners must constantly fill the "brine tank" |
| reacts with soaps and detergents making it very | | | | with salt. This salt is sold in 50 pound bags. Lugging |
| difficult to properly launder clothes. The cost to | | | | these down the stairs into the basement is difficult for |
| homeowners in terms of shortened appliance lifespan | | | | some and just impossible for others. Since water |
| and increased water heating costs (due to fouling of | | | | softeners utilize a motor and gear mechanism for |
| hot water heater elements) is substantial. | | | | controlling the backwashing cycle, they are prone to |
| Since the 1950's the answer to this problem has been | | | | mechanical failure and sometimes require costly repair |
| the water softener. As with most technology of this | | | | or replacement. |
| vintage, traditional water softeners are grossly | | | | Thankfully, an emerging technology looks to offer |
| inefficient and more alarmingly they represent a | | | | many of the benefits of traditional "salt" softening |
| significant environmental threat. This environmental | | | | without the environmental impact. The salt free water |
| threat has been recognized by several cities in the | | | | softener as it is typically referred to, utilizes nano |
| USA and in some places such as California's Santa | | | | technology to convert the dissolved calcium and |
| Clarita district, these old style softeners have been | | | | magnesium content of the water into microscopic |
| banned outright. | | | | crystals. This technology is sometimes referred to as |
| The problem with water softeners stems from the | | | | Template Assisted Crystalization. Micro-sites on the |
| mechanism by which they operate. Water flows | | | | ceramic surface of the beads promotes the formation |
| through a tank filled with tiny resin beads. These beads | | | | of crystals of magnesium and calcium. These crystals |
| attract calcium and magnesium (the "hardness") and | | | | grow and break off. This happens all over the surface |
| bind them to their surface. In exchange, the resin | | | | of each ceramic bead in the salt free system. These |
| releases sodium. Once all the resin in the softener is | | | | crystals are not removed from the water but simply |
| saturated with hardness, the tank is flushed with | | | | float along. Because they are not dissolved, they are |
| concentrated salt brine that recharges the resin. After | | | | not able to participate in the active chemistry of the |
| this process is complete the brine solution is sent down | | | | water. They don't coat pipes, coffee pots, nor do they |
| the drain. A water softener for a single home can | | | | interfere with soaps and detergents. |
| conservatively discharge 500 pounds of salt directly | | | | |