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Water Softener History

Hard water contains high mineral concentrations and is treated in most places before reaching the tap. It is not harmful to drink but does pose numerous problems that can be solved by removing the mineral content. A treatment process called water softening makes water taste better and prevents plumbing problems that arise from lime and calcium deposits.

  1. History

    • Water treatment dates back to 2000 BC when people were boiling water to improve its taste. Contaminants in water were largely undiscovered; however, straining away visible particles and reducing foul smells and bad taste was desirable throughout history.

      Microorganisms were discovered in drinking water in the late 1600s, but not until 1804 was the first public water treatment plant established in Scotland. By the early 1900s, modern water treatment methods were widespread, and included water softening treatments.

    Modern Treatment

    • Experimentation led to a process for reducing the mineral content in water, using sodium ions to replace calcium and magnesium ions. The procedure, called ion exchange, was first introduced in 1903. Through ion exchange, harmful elements in the water are replaced with safer ones. This same discovery would eventually be used to remove lead, mercury and other heavy metals from public water.

    Ion Exchange

    • Ions are particles having positive or negative charges, which can be can be captured and exchanged through filtration. A water-softening filter contains beads saturated with negatively charged sodium ions. Water containing positively charged calcium and magnesium ions—hard water—passes through the filter and is exchanged with negatively charged sodium ions. The result is softer water containing a low level of mineral salt.

    Hard Water

    • Water is nature’s solvent. As it passes through layers of soil and rock, it dissolves small amounts of mineral and retains it to make an even stronger solvent. Dissolved calcium and magnesium are the two most common minerals in hard water, so the water’s hardness increases as it passes through the ground.

    Water Softening

    • When hard water passes over limestone, its dissolving properties make picking up lime deposits easier, which are then left behind in plumbing. Lime builds up over time and clogs pipes, and can cause major plumbing problems if not for water softening. Softened water is better at breaking down soaps and detergents, and leaves the skin feeling soft, not dry and pasty as hard water can.

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