How to soften water at home from a well, well or tap. The harm of hard water and ways to soften it

Without water, as we know, nothing living can exist. We drink water, we cook food from it, we use it for irrigation, we use it in various industries. That is, in essence, water is the basis of life, and if it is far from pure or does not meet the requirements that are necessary for life on earth, then the question of what to do with such water becomes more and more acute. The most “popular problem” today in the environment of working with water is its increased hardness.

It is formed from excess calcium and magnesium salts. This set subsequently poorly dissolves any detergents and forms the main disadvantage of working with such water - scale. You can detect it in your home based on many signs. If you begin to notice a light, barely perceptible coating on the surface of your tea or coffee, if your plumbing fixtures cannot work for even two months without changing cartridges, then you are faced with an urgent question: hard water, what to do?

There are only two ways to solve this issue today. Alas, nothing new has been invented yet. Today it is known to either remove scale or reduce this very hardness. Removal involves constant cleaning of surfaces from limescale, and this must be done with strict frequency, because If you skip descaling once, you risk missing the moment when limestone deposits form. And coping with the latter is much more difficult. This will cause more work and more expenses.

The most effective way to solve all the problems of working with two salts is to soften the water. This is the removal from the water of that very excess hardness that forms scale. Any situation - in an apartment, in your own home, at work - requires your own. Then the question – hard water, what to do – simply won’t arise, because all your household appliances will work with soft water. A system of at least two can protect you from scale.

Remember, any water preparation will always contain at least two devices. For industry, this could be an ion exchange unit and reverse osmosis; for everyday use, an electromagnetic water softener AquaShield and a filter jug. A system of such water purification will never work correctly without chemical analysis of water.

It may seem to many that conducting such an analysis in everyday life may be useless, but let's think about what such an analysis gives us? The first thing you get after a chemical analysis of water is the composition of impurities in the water, then you understand what the water consumption per day is in your apartment. At the same time, you must understand that when you have purifiers that are too hard, the water consumption in the apartment will be less.

This is due to certain characteristics of this type of water. It does not dissolve detergents well, as a result the housewife understands that she has hard water, what should she do in such a situation? Not everyone, however, can guess that white stains on fabric surfaces are hardness salts. Many people think that it is powder stuck in the pores. But this is not entirely accurate. This is powder plus hardness salts. Not only is this composition very difficult to wash out of tissue pores, it also corrodes them. As a result, it turns out that things washed many times in such water wear out very quickly. Fabrics begin to crack and tear after just 3-4 washes.

The question of hard water, what should the housewife do, should be approached very carefully, because... Such increased water hardness also negatively affects human health. Hardness salts are deposited with the same success on the surfaces of equipment and on the surfaces of internal organs, as well as on our hair and skin. The only way to protect yourself from such influence is to install a system for purifying water from excess hardness.

Another option for the development of events is the constant purchase of purified water. But you must admit that you can buy water only for drinking and cooking, but there definitely won’t be enough resources for washing. Therefore, here the protection against scale will definitely be incomplete, because... contact with will still be constant.

The next negative from water, which makes you think about how to create a water softening system, is the formation of scale. It is created by calcium and magnesium salts, which precipitate when heated. Then a slightly soluble precipitate is formed and a slight release of carbon dioxide.

Hard water, what to do - these are issues that each housewife has to solve independently, and it is precisely the issues of descaling that our housewives still devote an excessive amount of time to. Scale must be removed in a timely manner; if this is not done, the result will be excessive fuel consumption. Everything can end in the failure of expensive household appliances or expensive industrial equipment.

While the limescale deposit is small, the scale only manifests itself by consuming more electricity. Heat still flows into the water, albeit intermittently. Then the scale takes on a denser shape and heat transfer becomes more problematic. In this case, the device may begin to turn off on its own without warning. This is a signal for you to turn off the water in the system and immediately begin descaling.

If this is not done, then the water is hard, what to do with it then.. This question will not bother you anymore, because... The household appliance will simply break and will no longer serve you. Scale has poor heat conductivity and when it is deposited on heating elements, a certain preservative effect occurs. Scale covers the heating element, and virtually no heat is transferred from it to the water. Remains inside the element.

At the same time, no one has canceled the increase in the temperature of the material. While the scale prevents the transfer of heat, the heating temperature rises and rises. As a result, the material, no matter how strong it is, cannot withstand overloads. It begins to either crack, or leak, or even worse, it may explode. In everyday life, this can manifest itself in the form of a wiring break and a heating element burning out.

In addition, scale also stimulates the formation of corrosion. For thermal power engineering, where there is hard water, what to do? This is the main pressing issue, since the equipment works with such unclean water constantly, without stopping. It is very important in no case to allow corrosion to develop. It is very difficult to eliminate two negative consequences at once.

You should always remember that it is impossible to remove any plaque without consequences. There will always be traces, there will always be cracks and scratches. On such an uneven surface, new scale will stick much more readily than on an old smooth one. And with the appearance of such a new dense layer, descaling will be much more difficult.

Let’s not forget that damaged surfaces mean practically lost equipment. That is, over time it will fail and will fail much faster. The shelf life of the devices will be reduced very significantly. And no one will want to buy a new washing machine in five years, instead of the promised 7-8.

These issues have to be addressed every day. And most often with the help of a brush and descalers. Our people still believe that it is an expensive pleasure. And if you want to install a cleaning system, you will have to pay dearly for it. Fortunately, the current situation is such that devices for cleaning hardness are tending to become cheaper and becoming available to an ever wider segment of the population.

Today, the most affordable option for solving the problem of hard water is an ion exchange device. It is not recommended to use it for an apartment, since the device requires reagent softening, that is, using chemicals. But they tried to solve this situation in such a way that there was no harm at all.

And all that was needed to solve the problem was not to restore the cartridges, but simply to change them. The basis of the ion exchange process is a resin enriched with sodium. It may have a porous form, or it may be gel-like. In the process of releasing sodium and receiving hardness salts, the structure swells. When the saturation with hardness salts ends, you will immediately feel that the taste of the water has changed. Typically, one ion exchange cartridge is enough for a quarter. And provided that the water hardness is average. If the hardness is higher, the cartridge will be used much earlier.

Water is purified in such an ion exchange device quite quickly, and this does not require the use of electricity, everything happens naturally. It’s just that the ions of hardness salts are attracted to the resin, but the sodium in the system is kept very loosely. So it turns out that the speed of purifying water from impurities is one of the highest of all purification devices.

In industry, cartridges are remanufactured. But even simple cartridges simply can’t handle it? The ion exchange installations there are very large and powerful. It is simply impossible to replace such cartridges, because... It will be too expensive for production. Therefore, installations here are required to be equipped with recovery tanks. In industry, where water is often worked with throughout the whole day or day, the ion exchange installation includes two or three cartridges, or even four. And what to do if the water is hard in such a difficult case? It is best to contact specialists for the AquaShield device.

All filters work in parallel, and even if one is being restored, the others work both for themselves and for it. The controller or control unit will indicate that it is time to restore the installation. Any industrial ion exchange device is equipped with one monitoring and control element, even if there are several filters in the installation. It counts the period of water purification or the volume of purified water. And after the deadline expires, it sends a signal to the main installation.

After the signal, the dirty tap water is turned off. The cartridge is removed from the filter and transferred to the reducing agent tank. There is a ready-made brine solution there. The salt concentration in it is 8-10 percent. Salt, as you know, is concentrated sodium. So it turns out that recovery occurs under the pressure of a large amount of sodium. Although hardness salts stay very tightly inside the resin structure, they cannot withstand the pressure of sodium and change places with them again. The cartridge can be used again.

A specialized purified salt is used as a reagent. If suddenly it runs out, and there is nothing at hand except “Extra” salt, then in extreme cases you can use it. One condition is that it must not be iodized.

The disadvantages of such a device include high reagent costs. Although this is simple salt, on an industrial scale, even salt will be very expensive. On top of that, constant washing and constant costs are inconvenient. Do you understand what to do if the water is hard? Over time, the cartridge will have to be changed again. Therefore, it turns out that although the installation itself is quite cheap, it costs a lot to maintain and its cost will then add up from fixed costs.

Another option for solving the problem of hard water is to use reverse osmosis. Only in the obligatory case of using it as part of a water treatment system. You, as a consumer, must clearly understand that reverse osmosis is a fine filter and can work with primary water, although it cannot work with tap water. In this case, the use of the device is indicated exclusively in conjunction with preparatory cleaning devices. To do this, use a mechanical device or.

Reverse osmosis is able to remove almost all harmful impurities from water, including bacteria and viruses. And what is important for the same industry. He is able to get the water you need. That is, you can order water with the desired mineralization, alkalinity, etc. For a specific order, you simply need to purchase the appropriate selective membrane. The removal of excess salts from water occurs under the influence of sudden pressure changes.

Reverse osmosis has two sides to the coin. Its advantages turn into its disadvantages - the quality of purified water is too high. This is a plus for industry, because... very often a distillate is needed in production, but it is not suitable for everyday use. Hardness salts wash out both harmful and beneficial minerals. As a result, the installation requires an additional air conditioning filter. And the fact of fine cleaning leads to the use of another cleaning device in the system. So it turns out that reverse osmosis is not one filter, but three. And the price for it is naturally quite high.

And the latest and most well-thought-out device for water purification in such difficult conditions as thermal power engineering -. Here the main work is performed by the electrical processor. It creates electromagnetic waves that penetrate poor-quality tap water. What to do in this case? Nothing really. This is the beauty of this device. He will do everything for you.

Electromagnetic waves will change the shape of hardness salts. They will behave as before. They will strive to stick to surfaces and will rub against the surface. As a result, the old scale will gradually come off. What to do in this case? And if in another month you spin up any of your household appliances, you will see the results with your own eyes. And yet you yourself did nothing. Just screwed it on and plugged the device into the outlet. No flushing for you. No recovery for you. The device does everything itself and works for up to 50 years. This is an ideal solution to the problem of hard water and what to do with it at home.

The only drawback is the inability to work with standing water. But since the device itself cleans old scale, standing water is not important to it. Such a device does not care at what speed the water flows or in which direction it flows. For thermal power engineering, as we see, this is the most convenient, most compact device. To mount or remove it, you do not need to make unnecessary movements.

We looked at the reasons for the formation of increased hardness in water, what to do in this case, and what is best to choose as a filter for limescale. Now you know what to do if the water is hard and how to deal with it. Now you know exactly why a particular model is better than another and what will suit you best. By doing just one water analysis, you will immediately get an idea of what kind of filter you need and at what power.

Water is a source of good mood and vigor. This is a great way to quench your thirst and an opportunity to make your life cleaner. Not only the human body, but also all living things on the planet are made of water. In turn, high-quality water is the key to good health and vitality. We all know about this and have already heard it many times, but many people do not even think about the quality of tap water. So, how to soften hard water and what are the ways to determine water hardness at home?

From the TV screen you can hear that hard water has once again ruined another thousand washing machines and what remedy will prevent this. By succumbing to advertising, you will always depend on the manufacturers of this product, but the source of the problem will never be solved. There is a way out: study your enemy and find out how to fight him. In this article you will understand what hard water is, learn how to determine its condition at home and see what methods exist to soften water, and even a little more.

What is hard water?

Water hardness is a chemical concept that can be characterized as an increased content of calcium and magnesium salts included in its composition. Hard water is divided into two types:

Temporary (carbonate),

Constant (non-carbonate).

Temporary water hardness is caused by the presence of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates. When water is heated, these elements decompose with the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate and the formation of carbonic acid. These deposits settle on pipes, water heaters and household appliances, thereby causing serious damage.

Constant water hardness is characterized by the presence of other chemical compounds - chlorides, phosphates, silicates, sulfates and nitrates of magnesium and calcium. These substances do not disintegrate when boiled and remain in the water constantly.

In most cases, water hardness depends on the territorial location of the settlement and the composition of the soil. If you live in an area with a high content of calcareous rocks in the ground, then the water will be harder. It is important not only to know what water hardness is, but also to be able to determine it at home.

How to determine water hardness at home?

If you are serious about testing the quality of water for hardness at home, then you should know several common methods:

1. Wash your hands with foam

A very simple and affordable way to check the hardness of tap water is the usual foaming of laundry soap. You can also use another type of soap or washing powder, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that in hard water, soap solutions produce very little foam. This is due to the fact that magnesium and calcium salts “capture” the soap and prevent it from foaming. This way it turns out that if there is a lot of foam from the soap, the water is soft, if there is not enough foam, the water is hard. However, this method of determining hardness is rather “folk” and does not give a complete picture of the actual state of water.

soap your hands

2. Drink up

Some people's taste buds can recognize hard water with an error of just a couple of mEq/L. Indeed, due to the increased content of calcium and magnesium salts, the taste of water becomes bitter. Such “tasters” will determine the hardness of your water in a matter of seconds. But where to find such experts?

3. We settle, we stick

There are often cases when you can see persistent scale inside the kettle. These are the consequences of hard water. As mentioned earlier, when carbonate water is heated, the elements decompose with the subsequent formation of a persistent (insoluble) precipitate. With further heating of water, these particles stick to the walls of the container or pipes and form scale. Such deposits lead to breakdowns of washing machines and, over time, narrow the diameter of the heating system pipes.

4. Guide! Tea!

You can also determine the hardness of water at home by how long the tea is brewed. Lovers of the amber drink have long known that the composition of the water determines the intensity of the tea and its preparation time. If soft water is used, then you will get an invigorating drink in 3-5 minutes. If the water is hard - 7-10 minutes. And the taste of the tea will be completely different.

5. Electronic assistant

Many aquarists use a special electronic meter at home - a conductivity meter (TDS meter). This device measures the electrical conductivity of water. The larger it is, the more salts are contained in the water. People called him “salt meter.” However, this device is not intended to measure water hardness. Using the device readings and special tables, you can independently calculate the degree of water hardness.

conductivity meter

The principle of its operation is quite simple and is as follows. Remove the protective cap covering the electrodes and immerse it in a container with the water being tested. Watch the display and calculate the total water hardness using tables or formulas.

6. Express test

Hardness indicators can be found in stores specializing in the sale of goods for hospitals, laboratories, universities and schools, as well as in pet stores. These are special rapid tests that allow you to more accurately determine the presence of salts in water.

Optimal water hardness

According to the accepted calculation system, the unit of measurement used to measure the concentration of water hardness is mol/m3 (mol per cubic meter). However, in reality, other indicators are used - degrees of hardness and mEq/L (milligrams equivalent per liter). According to new standards adopted in Russia, the unit of hardness is measured in degrees of hardness, which corresponds to 1 mEq/l.

Water is usually divided according to its total hardness into:

Soft,
- average,
- tough,
- super-hard.

Soft water has a concentration of 0 to 2 °F. This indicator is often found in swampy areas with peat bogs. Passing through peat, the water is purified and becomes very soft. Melt water is also soft. Perhaps you had to melt snow and use this water for household purposes: washing your hands or washing your face. Then you should know that it is simply impossible to wash off soap with such water.

Water of medium hardness has values from 2.1 to 7 °F. This is the most common phenomenon in our homes when this type of water flows from the taps. This figure will vary in different areas. The lower it is, the “tastier” the water will be.

Hard water, as we have already said, contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium salts. The content of these substances from 7 to 10 °F is considered harmful, and for some people even dangerous.

Ultra-hard water is found mainly in natural conditions. For example, in the lakes of karst caves, the concentration of hard salts can exceed 80 °F, and sometimes even higher. Naturally, it is simply impossible to drink such water.

The optimal water hardness, established by the World Health Organization (WHO), is 1-2 °W or mEq/l. In Russia, this indicator has settled at 7 mEq/l. So it turns out that Russians have to additionally soften the water right at home.

How to soften hard water at home?

If the readings obtained when measuring water hardness at home are not very satisfying, or you simply notice sediment when water boils in a kettle, then you need to find ways to soften the water.

1. “Grandmother’s Methods”

Boiling is a fairly simple and affordable way to soften carbonate water at home. It is worth noting that over time, a significant layer of lime deposits grows on the walls of the boiling container. In this case, the dishes will have to be changed.

Using soda ash is a long-known and reliable method for softening hard water. In this case, a reaction also occurs, as a result of which the hard salts already known to us are converted into insoluble compounds. Just 1-2 teaspoons of soda per bucket of water and you have soft water for washing.

2. Reverse osmosis system

This cleaning method is based on the passage of water through semi-permeable membranes. This allows you to remove not only hardness salts from water, thereby softening it, but also filter out viruses and bacteria. Thanks to the reverse osmosis method, the cleaning efficiency becomes almost 100%. However, along with harmful compounds, beneficial ones are also removed from the water.

3. Softening salts

This method is mandatory for dishwasher owners. Softening salts come in tablet form that are added directly to the machine. Such measures will help extend the life of the equipment.

4. Filter jugs

This is a fairly voluminous (up to 3 liters) container in the form of a jug, inside of which there is a filter cartridge. This is the most affordable way to purify water and soften it. However, the low price of the jug over time is complemented by the need to regularly change the filter cartridge. On average, one filter is enough for one to two months of water purification. This figure may vary depending on the hardness of the water and the number of people in the family. In order to soften hard water with such a filter, you need to choose the appropriate cartridge.

replacement filter cassette

5. Magnetic filter

A rather dubious invention based on a non-chemical method of softening running water. This device consists of two small magnets that create a magnetic field that helps clean hard water. This filter is also designed to remove various impurities. The beneficial properties of the resulting water for the body are little known. Therefore, the filter is used mainly in boiler rooms, where the result of its work is very noticeable. When using it, energy consumption and maintenance costs for heating mains are significantly reduced.

6. Ion exchange water softeners

Such devices have a pair of reservoirs, one of which is filled with an ion exchange resin, and the other with a saline solution. Passing through a tank with resin, the water is purified from hardness salts and other elements. Then, under pressure, it is fed into another tank with a brine solution, in which it receives the missing sodium ions, which makes the water much softer.

7. KeoSan water purification system

This filtration system is designed to purify drinking water from heavy metals, chlorine compounds and mechanical suspensions. A special property of the system is several degrees of purification, additional mineralization and structuring of water. Using a ceramic primary filter, made of diatomaceous earth ceramics with enhanced properties, mechanical particles are eliminated. The filter cartridge reliably removes chemicals, metals and unpleasant odors. At the same time, all useful minerals remain in the water. Then comes the process of mineralization and saturation with silver. Thanks to this, the water is enriched with oxygen, and all types of bacteria die. Filtered water can be collected through a special magnetic drain tap. These magnets form a funnel, passing through which the water molecules become a regular hexagonal shape. Accordingly, due to this, the biological activity of water increases, which has a beneficial effect on human health. This is not to say that this filter softens water. However, he brings her back to normal. That is, if the water is hard, it will soften it, if it is too soft, it will normalize it.

Keosan filter

Why hard water is harmful to health

If hard water can damage household appliances, then how harmful is it to human health? The danger of diseases such as urolithiasis, imbalance of the body’s water-salt balance and others suggests that it is necessary to think about your health today.

Now you have learned what water hardness is, how to determine it at home, and how to soften hard water. All you have to do is choose the most suitable method for obtaining soft water, and you will immediately feel the difference and taste. Good health to you and take care of yourself.

After the construction of a well, many believe that the problem with water is solved - after all, it is a gift of nature from the depths of Mother Earth, which certainly should be cleaner, softer and tastier than chlorinated liquid from rusty pipes. But that’s not the case, hard water from a well is a harsh reality that most property owners face. Let's consider the nature of the phenomenon, consequences (impact on health, everyday life) and available ways to solve the problem.

Hard water is water that contains an excess of soluble carbonates - “hardness salts” (calcium and magnesium), mechanical impurities, other salts, iron and manganese compounds, and nitrates.

In addition to salts, hard water can contain pathogenic bacteria

The chemical composition and degree of hardness of the liquid extracted from the ground are heterogeneous and depend on the conditions of formation of the aquifer, the type of soil and the ecological situation in the area. This indicator is measured in mEq/l; The classification of water according to it looks like this:

soft – 1.5-3;
moderately hard – 3-6;
hard – 6-9;
very hard – from 9.

If the liquid has more than 7 mEq/L, you should not drink it.

This is interesting: standards for hardness differ in different parts of the world - in Russia, water with 9 or more mg of salts per liter is considered unsuitable, in the USA - from 6 mg/l.

Types of rigidity and methods for determining them

There are 2 types of hardness:

temporary (carbonate), provoked by impurities of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates;
static, associated with the presence of chemical compounds of chlorides, sulfates, silicates, phosphates and nitrates of calcium and magnesium.

The temporary one can be eliminated by boiling - when heated, the carbonates disintegrate, falling into sediment. The problem of constant (static) hardness of water from a well cannot be solved this way. In the first case, softening of the liquid is required, in the second - its conditioning.

Note: in 95% of cases when there are complaints about very hard water from a well, we are talking about carbonate (temporary) hardness.

You can determine the cause of a decrease in water quality in a well in the laboratory or by calling a team of chemists to the site to take samples. The amount of scale on electrical appliances: kettle, boiler, washing machine or boiler indirectly indicates the hardness of the liquid.

Calcareous salt deposits - a blow to your equipment

Does hardness depend on the depth of the well?

Highly mineralized waters with a chloride composition are usually located in the lower aquifers, and low-mineralized waters with a high content of bicarbonates are closer to the soil surface.

The depth of the well affects the composition, but not the hardness. In deep mines there is less chance of finding traces of organic matter and fertilizer impurities, but it will contain a lot of iron, calcium and magnesium, and sometimes hydrogen. If the well trunk is shallow, there are more ways for it to become contaminated (through drains, high water, and during accidents at enterprises).

The great depth of the mine does not protect against “hardness salts”

How hard water behaves in everyday life

The first sign is scale. Limescale conducts heat poorly, which is why heating appliances and washing machines work worse and burn out, which threatens short circuits and fires, boilers and pipes crack or explode. The laundry does not wash well, becomes faded, and whitish stains appear on it, as on the tiles in the bathroom and kitchen. Due to scale, taps begin to leak (rubber gaskets and filters become clogged and peel off).

Note: in 80 cases out of 100, the washing machine fails due to scale, which is caused by the use of hard water from a well or from a centralized water supply system.

Scale leads to corrosion.

Detergents do not dissolve well in very hard water, which leads to their overuse by 50-60%.

When drinking “over-salted” water, there is a high risk of problems with the stomach and kidneys, because scale settles in the body in the same way as on appliances; When swimming, the skin and hair become dry.

Ca and Mg salts contained in hard water bind useful elements needed by plants (P, Fe, etc.) into insoluble compounds - this is not the life-giving moisture that they need, it is poison. The same applies to aquarium animals - hard water is harmful to them.

Water softening methods

What to do if there is hard water in the well? – Clean, soften, filter. It cannot be used.

There are several ways to reduce the hardness level to a minimum or neutralize excess salts completely so that the water can be used at least for technical needs:

thermal (boiling or freezing);
reagent (disinfection or neutralization of “hardness salts” using chemicals that bind them);
filtration (membrane, ion exchange, electromagnetic and magnetic);
combined method;

Important: if water is extracted from a well manually, only reagent and thermal methods are suitable, since most other solutions require pressure. Or you can use mobile membrane filter jugs.

Before choosing a treatment system, be sure to conduct laboratory analysis of water samples

So, there is hard water in the well - what to do:

Do an analysis in the laboratory.
After consultation with chemists, determine the number and sequence of cleaning steps.
Install a filter system or implement other methods.
After 6-7 months, carry out a control analysis of the water and, if necessary, improve/replace the purification system.

Note: over time, the hardness of the water in the well may decrease on its own due to seasonal or other changes in the environment. Sometimes it is enough to temporarily use pitcher filters or boil water until underground springs clear themselves. To avoid spending money on expensive filters and reagents, consult a specialist.

Thermal methods: boiling and freezing

When exposed to high temperatures, carbonates and sulfates break down, releasing carbon dioxide and sediment. At 100°C, salts partially lose their ability to dissolve in water. The disadvantage of this method is that the hardness is reduced by only a few points, plus the resulting scale spoils plumbing and electrical appliances.

When frozen, clean water turns into ice faster than “salted” water; sulfates and carbonates accumulate in the center of the container. When its walls are seized by an ice crust, the liquid from the center is drained and the ice is melted. Melted water is structured and does not contain salts.

Thermal methods purify the liquid only partially

Reagent methods

Lime, caustic soda, tableted or powdered synthetics (“Calgon”, “Finish”, etc.), caustic, soda ash or baking soda are used as reagents. These substances bind ions of “hardness salts”, causing them to precipitate.

Lime is suitable for neutralizing carbonate and partially non-carbonate hardness of well water. The material requires the use of additional coagulant reagents, such as soda.

Soda is used separately or in tandem with sodium when the temporary hardness is slightly higher than the permanent hardness (for washing, cooking).

Synthetics are used only for washing.

Disadvantages of chemical methods:

formation of solid waste when turbid suspensions are released;
After using most chemicals, water from the well should not be drunk;
precise dosage is required;
For safe storage of reagents, a separate place is required, out of reach of children and animals.

Filtration

In addition to the simplest filter jugs with replaceable cartridges, which last for 1-2 months, more complex filtration systems are used:

Membrane. Membranes under pressure of 3-4 atm allow only water molecules to pass through, retaining salts and distilling the liquid. Reverse osmosis filters work on this principle. Some models are equipped with mineralizers that enrich the purified liquid with salts and other elements, since after membrane cleaning there is not only nothing harmful left in it, but also nothing useful.

Ion exchange. The active ingredient is fine-grained sodium resins (cations). During the cleaning process, they are exchanged for calcium and magnesium ions, and after the filter layer is depleted, they are renewed (manually or automatically). There are models with regeneration flasks and fillings, cartridge and regenerative options. This method of softening hard water from a well is quite expensive; the liquid cannot be drunk after its use, but ion exchange systems are highly productive and soften it efficiently.

Electromagnetic. Under the influence of electromagnetic waves generated by the microprocessor, carbonate ions lose their activity and ability to precipitate, and are then removed. Installing an electromagnetic device on the main pipe allows you to protect equipment from scale and destroy existing layers in the pipes.

The essence of electromagnetic cleaning

Magnetic. Under the influence of magnetic fields, silicates and carbonates also lose the ability to accumulate in the form of deposits and sediment, after which they are concentrated in “settlers” from which they are removed.

Operating principle of a magnetic filter

Note: even if laboratory analysis does not reveal deviations in mineralization and other standards, experts recommend installing fine filters to improve water quality.

It is more effective to use a combination of several filters with different softening principles. The choice of components of such a multi-level system depends on the degree of hardness of the water in the well, its composition, and purposes of use. Before choosing any of the methods, consult with a specialist so as not to overpay and risk your health.

Before the invention of filters, well owners softened water using improvised means at home:

Advocacy. The water is left to settle for 1-2 days, after which it is suitable for irrigation.
Using vinegar, lemon juice or citric acid will remove plaque from dishes and reduce the carbonate content in the liquid. A side effect is that the water will begin to sour.
Herbal infusions of flaxseeds, nettles or chamomile are boiled to soften water when bathing or washing hair.
Silicon. Washed stones containing silicon are placed in a glass or enamel container and left in the shade for 2-3 days, covered with gauze. Consumption – 100 g per 10 l. Only the top layer of liquid is used, the lower 3-4 cm are drained.
Peat infusion. About 100 g of peat is placed in a canvas bag and dipped in a container of water for 24 hours, after which it can be used for watering.

Folk softeners are unreliable

While water samples from the well are being examined in the laboratory, inspect the shaft to see if the bottom and bottom filter are silted, or if there are cracks or moss on the walls of the rings. If problems are found, they must be eliminated - disinfection, filter replacement, waterproofing work. Also take care of the aeration system to enrich the water with oxygen.

Important! Boiling, freezing and folk remedies are a partial solution to the problem. These methods can only be used as a temporary solution. Very hard well water requires complex treatment measures using several types of filters.

In order for the water to be of high quality, the well must be kept clean.

In addition to the described softening options, mechanical filters may be required to eliminate large solid impurities, sorption filters to eliminate odor and turbidity, and disinfectants to combat microflora. To find out what solutions exist in your situation, be sure to have samples analyzed in the laboratory and consult with specialists.

Kitchen appliances that deteriorate, residue on dishes or dried skin after bathing, reduced effectiveness of soaps or powders, accelerated wear of clothes after washing, layers of scale are just some of the problems that each of us is familiar with. All this happens due to too hard water. Meanwhile, it can be softened without problems by removing excess calcium and magnesium salts. How to do it?

How to classify water hardness

Water hardness is the concentration of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) salts dissolved in it.: hydrocarbonates, chlorides and sulfates. There are several types:

general,
temporary,
constant.

Water hardness can be divided into the following groups:

Not hard water;
Soft water ( water with low salt concentration);
Hard water ( water with a high concentration of salts);
Very hard water.

The unit of measurement is called mol/m3; in practice, mg-eq./l is often used, where 1 mg-eq./l = 20.04 mg of Ca ions or 12.16 mg of Mg ions. According to GOST 2005 R 52029-2003, the unit of measurement is degree - °Zh. Based on the value of this indicator, water is divided into 3 categories:

soft: up to 2°F
medium hardness: 2-10°F
hard: > 10°F

How to indirectly determine that the water in the house is hard:

Washed fabrics become rougher, harder to the touch, with residues of soap or calcium and magnesium salts, white stains.
Washing requires more soap or powder, foam is formed poorly, flakes are released, and washing power decreases.
When boiling, a lot of scale appears. Even new dishes are immediately covered with plaque.
After drops of water dry on dishes and tables, white stains form on plumbing fixtures.
Feeling of dryness and tightness of the skin when interacting with water.

Hard water problem in the kitchen

Filters can greatly help us in removing excess minerals responsible for hardness. Some have in their assortment unique cartridges designed for water with a hardness of up to 500 mg/l. The cartridge removes chlorine, phenol, heavy metals (for example, cadmium and lead are very dangerous to our health), iron, pesticides and petroleum products. Moreover, it absorbs excess calcium and magnesium compounds, which settle on the walls of dishes and can destroy household appliances. Such cartridges have softening properties. They guarantee the absence of sediment on dishes and household appliances.

How can you soften hard water?

As a rule, you can soften hard water in the following ways:

Ionic- filtration through fine-grained resin
- Advantages
  - Great performance.
  - Good softening quality.
  - Long validity period.
  - Minimal involvement in the update process
- Flaws
  - High cost of filters.
  - Fixed costs and participation in the process.
  - The outlet water is applicable only for domestic needs; it cannot be consumed or cooked.
Reagent- dissolution of hard elements by softer ones ( soda, salt, lime, synthetic degradants)
- Advantages
  - Good quality of softening and cleaning.
  - Turbid and harmful impurities are well removed.
- Flaws
  - Formation of processed products in the form of solid particles.
  - Strict dosage of substances.
  - The outlet water is applicable only for domestic needs; it cannot be consumed or cooked ( except for softening with soda or salt reagent).
  - Reagents must be stored under specified conditions and in a safe place.
Magnetic- the effect of a magnetic field on heavy salts ( salts lose their ability to settle on the walls)
- Advantages
  - properties of magnets).
- Flaws
  - High price.
Thermal- boiling for one hour
- Advantages
  - Simple procedure
  - No special equipment required I
- Flaws
  - Large volumes of water cannot be processed
  - It is necessary to remove sediment after cooling
Membrane- release of hard impurities under high pressure
- Advantages
  - Very high degree of purification.
  - Removing all impurities from water (very close to distilled water).
- Flaws
  - The need to create high pressure up to 3 atm..
  - Mineralization is required for consumption.
  - High cost of the system.
Electromagnetic- the effect of a magnetic field on heavy salts with less human participation ( heavy particles are removed directly into the sewer)
- Advantages
  - At low intensity, high quality softening.
  - Cleaning household appliances and pipelines from scale and rust ( properties of magnets).
  - Low power consumption.
  - Extending the life of your dishwasher or washing machine.
- Flaws
  - Permanently remove purified accumulations from the system.
  - Poor effect on increased water hardness.
  - The magnets have a limited lifespan.
  - High price.
Combined- a combination of several methods at once
- Advantages
  - Water of the highest quality.
  - No clogging of plumbing systems and household appliances.
- Flaws
  - Highest cost.
  - Combination of disadvantages of each system.
  - Requires a professional approach.

What does softening look like in practice?

Let's consider the ionic method. Removal of calcium and magnesium salts is carried out using a special ion exchange resin. Calcium and magnesium compounds do not pass through it, and only substances that are safe for health and do not harm household appliances leave with water. The content of ion exchange resin in the removable cartridge is selected very carefully and does not affect the PH value of the water we drink.

Such a cartridge guarantees high quality cleaning and allows you to filter about 300 liters before replacing it, which is approximately equal to the amount of water that is needed for use for three months.

Hard water destroys dishes, equipment in the kitchen and bathroom.

The minerals found in water are essential for our body; they protect our heart and blood vessels. But their absorption in the body is very difficult and, in fact, they do not have much effect on the mineral composition of our body. The compounds contained in food are much better and easier to digest. On the contrary, the minerals present in water, and especially their excess, are harmful to home appliances and heating systems.

Lime and stones that can be seen in a washing machine, dishwasher, electric kettle, and coffee maker quickly and often irreversibly destroy these devices. The stone is also used to cover elements of expensive plumbing fixtures, mirrors, and ceramic tiles. It looks terrible and requires the use of strong detergents.

Even worse are pipes that are blocked by stones and become clogged, which leads to countless accidents, the elimination of which requires costs associated with replacing gaskets, radiators and paying for the services of plumbers. Hard water is also responsible for all these troubles.

You can try changing the composition of the water by installing simple softeners with ion exchange resin in front of each device, such as a washing machine or dishwasher. But the problem is that they have relatively low productivity. The ideal solution is to use a central softener for the entire apartment.

This is convenient because it requires virtually no complex maintenance and provides effective softening of hard water throughout the house. Thanks to this device, you can prepare delicious dishes and drinks, reduce the cost of detergents and even save on moisturizing cosmetics, gradually forgetting about using them after bathing. Scale-free water also means lower electricity bills because clean heating elements in your home appliances will work 20% more efficiently.

They are very effective because even the simplest model guarantees operation at 1,500 liters per hour, which will provide soft water to a completely private house or apartment. In addition, the mentioned softener solution can significantly reduce not only the hardness, but also the iron content.

It's up to you to decide which option to choose. But, in any case, it is necessary to install a softener. Do this and you will enjoy all the benefits of soft water...

based on recn.ru materials

Hard water has a high content of minerals, most often calcium and magnesium. These minerals leave behind deposits that can clog drains and leave a residue on tiles, can prevent soap from foaming, and can leave marks on hair and skin. Research has found no health hazards from mineral deposits, and no medical reason to recommend softening hard water, but hard water can still be a nuisance. Read this article and learn about some ways to soften hard water.

Steps

Determination of water hardness

Find out if the water in your area is hard. Water is considered hard if it contains up to 6 mEq/L of salts in the USA, and 9 mEq/L in Russia. In almost the entire European part of Russia, the water is quite hard. This especially applies to the southern regions of the Black Earth Region, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

If you use city water supply, find out information about water hardness from the office of the water supply company.
Even if you have your own source of drinking water, you can also get approximate information about water hardness from your local water supply company office. There they can tell you the general source of water and provide some results of water testing, including its hardness level.
You can submit your water for analysis to one of the laboratories in your city. You can also buy a water hardness test and carry out the analysis yourself.

Pay attention to the degree of foaming of soap, toothpaste, dishwashing detergent, and washing powder.

If you add a sufficient amount of washing powder to the water, but little foam is formed, in all likelihood, your water is hard. Decide whether to soften the water.

If you have hard water, this does not mean that you need to soften it. Methods used to soften hard water can have adverse effects that outweigh the hassle of having hard water. If you can calmly accept the presence of hard water, then there is no need to soften it, or try to correct the situation without drastic methods and without installing expensive hard water softening systems.
1. Softening water before use Boil water before drinking it.
  - Boiled water can also be used to clean the kitchen and bathroom, brush your teeth, wash your face and wash your hair to increase the effectiveness of detergents.
  - After the water has simmered for a few minutes, let it cool. Particles visible to the naked eye will form on the surface of the water. Remove the top layer of boiled water and throw it away before drinking the water.
2. You can also let the water sit longer and the particles will settle to the bottom on their own. Carefully pour out the clean water, being careful not to disturb the sediment at the bottom. Pour the remaining water containing particles into the sink. Soften the water with soda or lime.
  - Previously, housewives always softened water by pouring it into barrels and adding washing soda or lime. The water stood for several days, then it was drained and used.
3. Add ammonia, borax, lye or washing soda to the water. Add one of these substances to the water when washing; soap or another detergent will do its job better. These products will not soften the water and will promote better foaming. Follow the instructions and read the warnings on the packaging carefully.
  - Dissolve 450 grams of washing soda in 940 ml of boiling water. Store refrigerated oda in a closed bottle. Take 2 tablespoons of solution per 3.5 liters of water during household cleaning.
  - Dissolve 1/4 tablespoon of lye in one glass of water. Mix the solution with 3.5 liters of water.
4. Use a filter jug to soften your drinking water. It can be bought in many stores. Some filters help drinking water, coffee, tea and other drinks retain their taste and aroma longer.
5. Almost all water softening methods require money, and these costs do not always pay off. Some water softening methods require upfront costs, while some methods have an ongoing cost. However, you must remember that water softening saves money.