Water Softener Solutions
The primary hard water minerals are magnesium and calcium (the hardness minerals), while iron and manganese (“the stainers”) can also be found in Rockland water, mostly in private wells. These contaminants can be removed with a water softener and/or a properly specified sediment filter depending on whether the contaminant’s form is in solution or particulate. A water test and analysis will determine the best course of action. A water softener will improve your water greatly if you have hard water minerals, iron, or manganese in your water. If other impurities are confirmed in the water test, they can be removed with other types of water filtration systems.
Water Softener with Sediment Filtration
WHAT A WATER SOFTENER REMOVES
A water softener effectively removes dissolved forms of iron & manganese and hardness minerals from the water. To remove particulate iron or manganese, water filtration utilizing a cartridge filter with proper micron rating will be effective. Selecting an appropriate micron rating and style of filter can be determined by a water treatment professional based on water test results and other symptoms. For more information on Iron and Manganese in water, see our published articles in Water Technology Magazines at the following link: http://publications/.
Dissolved Iron Staining
Hard water interferes with many cleaning tasks, from doing the laundry to washing dishes to taking a shower. Washing your hair in hard water may leave it feeling sticky and dull. Dishes and glasses get spotted and a film may build up on shower doors, bathtubs, sinks and faucets. Clothes can look dingy and feel rough and scratchy. Hard water can also cause a residue to build-up in pipes that can lower water pressure and cause corrosion. The maximum allowable level (per the Environmental Protection Agency) for iron as a secondary contaminant is .3 parts per million and for manganese is .05 parts per million. Small amounts of these minerals can have very noticeable, even damaging affects on your home’s water quality. For more on hard water, see link at usgs.gov/edu/hardness.html.
Damaging Scale
OTHER AFFECTS OF IRON, MANGANESE AND HARD WATER
Scale from hard water can build-up inside water heaters insulating the temperature sensor inside the tank creating extra work to bring the temperature up to the set level. This reduces hot water heater life and will likely require early replacement. Other affects of these contaminants include corrosion and scaling inside pipes and major staining throughout the home’s showers, bathtubs, and sinks.
Hard Water Scale
In addition to the above, there are many other types of systems to remove bad tastes & odors, sediment and many other objectionable minerals and contaminants in the water. Starting with a water test will dictate the right approach. For more information on this, see the link at http://bad-odor-taste-water/.
