The Disadvantages of Industrial Water Softeners

Industrial water softeners are simply large-volume versions of household water softeners and use the same kinds of processes. The advantages and disadvantages of each process are "scaled up" when applied to commercial properties such as apartment complexes, shopping centers or when used for industrial purposes. If you are considering a water softening system, you have determined the risks of living with hard water. Water softeners also carry risks.

Ion Exchange Water Softeners

• By far, the most common form of water softener for high volume systems is the ion exchange type. In these softeners, hard water flows through a resin bed where calcium and magnesium ions stick to the bed and are replaced by sodium ions. Sodium ions do not cause scaling problems in pipes or equipment, and this softened water is suitable for many needs. However, some people have health conditions which require limited intake of sodium. A sodium ion exchange system poses a health risk to a significant number of people. Some ion exchange systems replace calcium and magnesium with potassium ions. Potassium poses its own health risks when consumed in volume. In each case, the hardness minerals have been replaced and not removed. For industrial processes involving evaporation or any heating steps where water is boiled away, you have merely changed the composition of your mineral residue without reducing the residue amount.

Ultrafiltration

• Ultrafiltration (up to and including reverse osmosis systems) involves the use of membrane filters which trap all particles larger than their pore rating. For filtration rated 0.1 micron and smaller, this includes removal of all bacteria and most larger colloidal minerals. For filters rated 0.001 microns, all viruses and colloidal minerals as well as aqueous salts and most dissolved organics are removed as well. This system produces soft water.

  Unfortunately, the higher the level of filtration, the higher the cost of system installation and recurring costs for maintenance and filter replacement. For the highest levels of filtration, reverse osmosis types, this includes investment in high pressure pumps to force the water through the extremely fine filters. The only way to increase the volume of water softened is to multiply the number of filters in simultaneous use.

Water Distillation

• Distilled water is produced by turning a source water into water vapor, usually by boiling it and collecting the released steam. This pure water vapor is cooled in a condensation step and the resulting pure water has only trace amounts of minerals, organics or other impurities.

  As with ultrafiltration, this high-quality soft water is expensive to produce in quantity. If an industrial process includes use of cooling water which would release a pure vapor steam, a recapture and condensation step may turn a waste product into usable soft water. For most industrial cases, distilled water will involve a dedicated water heating and condensation system as a pure expense.

Magnetic Water Softeners

• Proponents say the use of magnetic or ultrasonic water softeners will make hard water act like soft water without removing any of the minerals making the water hard. There is no solid proof to back or completely deny these claims.

  For industrial purposes, magnetically softened water carries the same levels of dissolved minerals as the untreated hard water. In cases where water mineral residues after heating or evaporation are a problem, magnetic softeners will be of no use.