Water Softener Systems

How does a water softener system work?

2011-07-16T00:49:00.000-07:00

What’s hard and scaly and dwells in your pipes? No, it’s not the pet alligator your parents flushed down the toilet -- he’s grown up and terrorizing the sewers of Chicago. We’re talking about hard water.

We call water "hard" if it contains a lot of calcium, magnesium or other minerals. Groundwater acquires these metals by dissolving them from surrounding soil and rock. Industry measures water hardness in terms of grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/L). A grain is defined as 64.8 milligrams of calcium carbonate. If your water tests at 1 GPG (17.1 mg/L) or less, then you have soft water. Water around 1-3.5 GPG (17.1-60 mg/L) occupies a gray zone between soft and slightly hard water and 3.5-7 GPG (60-120 mg/L) is moderately hard. Hard water is around 7-10.5 GPG (120 - 180 mg/L), and very hard water is above that [source: Water Quality Association].

How do all those number affect you? Hard water causes two problems:

Dissolved calcium and magnesium precipitate out of hard water as scale, which builds up on the insides of pipes, water heaters, tea kettles, coffee makers and industrial machinery. Scale reduces flow through pipes and is a poor conductor of heat. Eventually, pipes can become completely clogged.
Hard water reduces soap's ability to lather, whether in the shower, sink, dishwasher or washing machine, and reacts with soap to form a sticky scum.

You can combat hard water in various ways, including filtering it by distillation or reverse osmosis, adding a packaged chemical softener such as powdered borax or washing soda (sodium carbonate), or running it through a water softener system.

Filtration in sink taps and refrigerator water dispensers improves water's taste, but its steep price tag makes it impractical as a household solution. Packaged chemicals soften water in small batches, such as washing machine loads, but render the water undrinkable, take a toll on clothes, and, in some cases, contain phosphates that harm the environment.

Descaling offers an alternative to water softening. Whereas a water softener system removes the problem (minerals in the water), a descaler addresses the damage caused by the problem (scale buildup). You will sometimes see ads for "salt-free water softeners," which are actually descalers, or for magnetic water softeners, which remain unproven and don't change the chemical composition of water, so buyer beware.

With all this in mind, it's clear why water softener system are so popular: They remain the least costly and most effective way to rid your water of troublesome minerals.

How water softener system work article source.

How much water do you really need?

2011-07-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

Do you really need 8 glasses of water a day?

Drinking six to eight glasses a day is "thoroughly debunked nonsense," one doctor says. How much water do we really need? You may think six to eight glasses per day because you have probably read many articles and had discussions with your doctor to support that.

But a Scottish physician has blasted that standard in a British Medical Journal article, stirring the debate about how much water we should drink and how much is too much and bad for our health. Dr. Margaret McCartney argues there is no quality scientific evidence to support the recommendation, which she says can lead to over-hydration problems for some people.

Here's what you need to know to sort hydration hype from good health advice.

Don't skimp

The eight-glass formula doesn't fit for everyone. It depends on your gender, size, and level of activity, other studies note. The Institute of Medicine calls for adult men to drink 13 cups of fluid daily (which totals three liters, or a little more than four tall reusable water bottles) and women to have nine cups (2.2 liters, or about the amount found in three reusable water bottles). That number changes according to lifestyle. The more active a person is, the more they will need to replace fluids. Larger people, pregnant and nursing women, and those who take dehydrating medications also will likely need to account for that by adding more water to their diet.

If you are active, it's also important to account for your environment when calculating how much fluid you need. If you are exercising in temperatures that are very hot (likely leading you sweat more) or very cold (which can stunt your ability to sense dehydration), are an endurance athlete, or are active in a high-altitude area, you will probably need to up your water intake.

Don't overdo it

The debate about how much water we really need to be drinking is centered around the risk of hyponatremia, or taking in more fluid that the body loses while sweating. It is a serious condition that occurs when there is not enough sodium (or salt) in the body fluids outside of the cells. This can cause swelling, including of the brain. Hyponatremia happens when a person sweats excessively in one stint, does not eat, does not urinate enough, and drinks a great deal of water. Symptoms include confusion, headaches, muscle spasms, vomiting, convulsions, and fatigue. In the worst cases, hyponatremia can lead to seizures, coma, and even death.

There are exceptions for medical conditions and other situations, but athletes are often watched for signs of hyponatremia, especially those participating in endurance events like a marathon or triathlon.

Experts advise taking in some electrolyte-replacement fluids in addition to drinking water while you are exercising. However, you really only need a minimal amount to keep your body in balance and give you an energy kick. For example, it is recommended that runners out for 30 minutes to an hour take in three to six ounces of fluid every 15 or 20 minutes, including one sports drink. There's also evidence that simply taking sips or swishing a sports drink will do the trick.

Don't get sucked in to the sports drink hype

The risks of hyponatremia are steep, but take the hype about over-hydrating with a grain of salt. The multi-billion-dollar sports drink industry has pushed the idea that most people need more than water when they are active. However, some experts say that most people don't need a lot of sports beverages, and that they often just add calories to diets. The CDC recommends choosing sports drinks that do not have added sugar, which can total 38 grams in just one bottle.

In May, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report warning that children should not consume sports drinks except when participating in lengthy sports competitions.

Consider these other drinks that carry the same benefits of electrolyte-replacement beverages but also have nutritional value or are less caloric:

Chocolate milk beat out water, sports drinks and regular milk in a recent study of what is the best post-exercise drink for our bodies. Lowfat milk has also been touted as an ideal remedy for muscles that have been rigorously exercised.

Coconut water is a nonfat beverage that has about half the calories of a sports drink while being high in potassium and antioxidants. Coconut water works best for average athletes.

Pickle juice is packed with sodium and, if you can bear it, can be added to water or made into popsicles for hot-weather workouts. There's also scientific and anecdotal evidence that drinking a shot out of the pickle jar will help alleviate muscle cramps faster.

Beetroot juice has recently been recognized as a new "super drink" after one study found it helped competitive cyclists cut down their times by a few critical seconds. Not taking part in the Tour de France? Then keep an eye out for more research on how this alternative beverage might help weekend warriors.

Count other drinks besides water as fluids

It's OK to include other drinks when you're measuring how many fluids you take in per day. However, that isn't a license to subsist on soda, coffee, and sugary drinks. Although caffeine in soda and coffee won't dehydrate you, they shouldn't be used to quench thirst or as a substitute for water. Add them to your fluid tally, but do reach for water more often than you pop open a can of bubbly stuff.

People who imbibe, particularly wine and hard liquors, should also be aware that those drinks with a high alcohol content can be dehydrating. Beer, however, is less dehydrating because it is predominantly water. Drinking a glass of water before and after alcohol can't hurt fluid intake or the chances of avoiding a headache the next day.

Eat your water

You don't always have to sip to stay hydrated. Experts say that 20 percent (or 2-1/2 cups) of the water we ingest comes from the foods we eat. Choosing the right water-rich fruits and vegetables will also add nutrients to your diet, fill you up, and may even give some oomph to your exercise.

Fruits like strawberries, cantaloupes, and peaches are packed full of water and potassium, which is the electrolyte shed when your body sweats. Adding more to your daily diet will help balance the fluids your body needs, regulate your heartbeat and circulation, and tastes better than chugging an energy drink.

Selecting foods that fuel your health while helping keep you hydrated will give you more bang for your buck. Watermelon offers a vitamin C boost, broccoli helps fight cancer, pineapple aids muscle recovery after a big workout, and yogurt ups immunity.

Sneak in the good stuff

If you're up to your ears in cucumber salad or can't manage to down another bottle of water, work in little ways to stay hydrated. Add slices of orange, lime, kiwi, or watermelon to a jug of water for a burst of natural flavor. Make a regular old glass of tap water feel fancier by adding fizz with a counter-top carbonator (sold for about $100 and marketed as home soda-makers, skip the added flavors to make sparkling water in your own reusable bottles). Take 10 minutes once a week to stock your fridge, car, gym bag, and desk with water bottles so it's convenient to grab water wherever you spend most of your day. Finally, you can up your fluid intake with one little step by simply adding a straw to your glass of water.

Article source is from yahoo

Water-Treatment Problems

2010-12-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

You would think that the foregoing process would be thorough enough to remove anything dangerous from the water you drink. But recent tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate that small amounts of numerous chemical compounds are getting through to the faucet in some cities. A few of these compounds are known to cause cancer. The irony of this is that several are said to be compounds of the very chlorine that is added to make the waters safe!

Some doctors even present evidence that chlorine may help to trigger the cholesterol buildup in human blood vessels that is said to cause heart attacks and strokes. Joseph M. Price, M.D., asserts in his book Coronaries/Cholesterol/Chlorine that it is “one of the greatest paradoxes of recorded history” that a public health measure responsible for saving so many lives “should also unsuspectedly be responsible for many of the chronic disorders of later life.”

Though such conclusions are disputed, hundreds of cities in Europe, Russia, Canada and Japan prefer alternative methods to disinfect their water. Nice, France, for example, has used ozone instead of chlorine for over sixty years; Paris, since 1968. Ozone is an unstable form of oxygen that reacts in a chemical frenzy with water, oxidizing impurities quickly and leaving no ozone residue.

Others advocate activated carbon granules in place of, or in addition to, conventional sand in filters. Activated carbon has a unique chemical “stickiness” that “absorbs” impurities. A single pound is said to expose more than four million square feet of activated carbon surface for removing impurities. Now many U.S. environmentalists are exerting increasing pressure to force adoption of such alternatives.

Making Water Drinkable

2010-12-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

Drinking water can seldom be called “pure” or “clean” in a chemical sense, because it almost always has some gases and minerals dissolved in it. Making water “potable” or safe to drink and pleasing to the taste does not require removal of all impurities. In fact, some of the elements necessary to good health and taste are often found naturally in good drinking water.

Fresh underground water obtained from springs and wells is often—but not always—safe to drink because of the filtering and purifying that takes place as it sinks through layers of soil and porous rock. Even fresh surface waters have self-purifying abilities. As it moves along, running water tends to break up wastes that enter, dissolving and diluting them to harmlessness, allowing the heavier particles to settle out. Wind and turbulence help aerate running water, causing it to release unwanted waste gases and absorb oxygen.

Dissolved oxygen is vital to an amazing step-by-step “digestion” process that occurs in both moving and still waters. The oxygen may directly oxidize or “burn” wastes, neutralizing them, or, more often, it supports bacteria that break down wastes to a harmless residue.

As the process continues, tiny life forms consume the bacteria, clearing the water further. Sunlight penetrates more easily, encouraging the growth of green algae, which, in turn, consume certain contaminating compounds and give off much oxygen in the process. Small water creatures feed on the algae, completing the “digestion” cycle. In this way fresh waters tend to purify themselves in time.

But even this marvelous system can suffer indigestion, as you do when you eat too much of the wrong things. Rainwater runoff from farmlands often contains chemical fertilizer and pesticide residues. New arrays of industrial wastes join them in our water sources, choking these with a variety and volume of chemicals often well beyond the capacity of nature’s purification system. As a result, self-purification, says Preventive Medicine and Public Health, has become “at best a half-truth and has in the past too often been used to justify acceptance of unsafe waters.” Now almost all communities in developed countries treat water in some way before using it.

In so doing, their methods often follow the lead of nature. Thus aeration is usually the first step of a typical purification system. Water is sprayed, cascaded or has air bubbled through it so as to absorb as much purifying oxygen as possible. Then certain chemicals are added that encourage impurities and bacteria to clump together in “flocs.” This coagulation process speeds up natural settling action, which is completed during sedimentation.

Then comes filtration, usually through sand filters, to remove the remaining flocs and most other impurities. Finally, disinfection kills most remaining live organisms, usually by means of chlorine.

Your Need for Water

2010-12-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

Since water is so much a part of our very existence, we need to keep our bodies well supplied. Though a person may survive as much as eighty days without food, few can last longer than about ten days without water. With a very small drop from normal water content, you quickly feel thirsty. Even a 1- or 2-percent deficiency of water can be distressing or painful. Just 5 percent causes skin shrinkage, dried-out mouth and tongue, and hallucinations begin. A 15-percent loss is usually death-dealing.

Your body is constantly losing water. In addition to the two pints normally lost through the skin and breath, another three pints or more may be eliminated through your kidneys and bowels. Water lost by sweating, and even by tears, has to be added to the normal total of five or six pints that must be replaced each day to maintain your body’s fluid balance.

Does this mean that you have to drink three quarts of liquid every day? Not unless you are sweating heavily. Actually, about a third of the water you need comes from eating “solid” food, which is often mostly water. Even bread is about a third water. Interestingly, your own body cells manufacture nearly a pint of water (H2O) chemically as they use oxygen (O) to burn the hydrogen (H) in your food as fuel.

Thus you may need to drink only five or six glasses of liquids such as milk, coffee, juice or water directly each day. But even though water is among the most abundant substances on earth, supplying enough drinkable water is a major undertaking. Since it can dissolve so many different substances, water is not always safe to drink without purification.

Water at Work Within You

2010-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

Blood is often equated with the very life of creatures, as in the term lifeblood. Appropriately, blood is over four fifths water. The unique qualities of water make it ideally suited as the basis of this life-giving fluid. For example, more substances dissolve in water than in any other liquid. It also has the unique ability to move freely back and forth through your body’s cell walls, carrying with it the chemicals of life. At the same time it serves as the medium in which complex chemical reactions take place within the cells.

These reactions “burn” as fuel the food you eat, generating heat, as an auto engine does when it burns fuel. But, then, how does your body keep its steady 98.6° temperature? Water! If the water in your body were another liquid—mercury, for example—heat from your cells would tend to raise your temperature over thirty times as fast as it does! This is because water requires far more heat to change its temperature than do most other substances.

But water serves in other ways, also, to control your body temperature. Rapid circulation by way of the bloodstream keeps heat relatively even all over, and quickly moves excess heat to your skin for radiating into the air. On the other hand, heat stored in your body’s water delivers welcome warmth to the extremities when you are cold.

Even with this remarkable system, your body usually does not quickly enough get rid of the heat that it generates. So another amazing property of water comes into play—evaporation. How does this help?

Well, when a pint of water evaporates, it soaks up about 1,100 times as much heat as when its temperature rises just one degree! You feel this cooling effect when a breeze dries moisture from your skin. Since about two pints of body water normally evaporate unnoticed each day through your skin and lungs by means of your breath, much excess heat is regularly released in this way.

But on a hot day, or as your activity picks up from normal levels, your sweat glands exude more water, possibly gallons in a day. Any perspiration that evaporates from the surface, rather than dripping off, carries with it immense amounts of heat—surely a marvelous cooling system!

The Water You Drink

2010-11-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

‘DRINKING WATER,’ once wrote Leonardo da Vinci, ‘can be health-giving, unwholesome, laxative, sulphurous, mournful, angry, red, yellow, green, black, blue, greasy, fat and thin.’

The water you drink today probably has few of these qualities. But even in our day about half a billion people are said to be constantly sick because of the water they drink. Ten million of them may die each year.

Surprisingly, even developed nations that take pride in their “safe” water are now having problems. Modern farming and industry are introducing a growing list of hard-to-remove and potentially hazardous chemicals into drinking-water sources. “It seems that everything that makes life easier makes water dirtier,” noted one U.S. expert at Senate hearings on the problem.

Life Depends on It

Despite these problems, water remains one of the most marvelous and absolutely essential substances known. The very existence of life itself on earth is based on it. In fact, water is the main ingredient of most living things. The human body has been described as a “virtual walking sack of precariously contained fluids.” About two thirds of your total weight is water, while as much as three fourths of your brain and muscles are.

From this it is obvious that life functions best within the narrow temperature range in which water exists as a liquid. Such an environment where life could exist is said to be practically nonexistent elsewhere in the universe. Though scientists speculate about possible millions of planets in the universe, the book Water: The Web of Life marvels:

“As we learn more about how unusual the conditions on earth really are . . . we wonder whether among even millions of planets we could find a duplicate of earth. . . . Apparently there is a very particular series of events that results in a planet with liquid water on its surface.”

What water does to sustain the life in your body illustrates what a remarkable substance it truly is.

What exactly are water softeners?

2010-11-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

The device transformed hard water into a soft water. Hard water contained calcium and magnesium metal and sometimes with bicarbonates and sulfates. On the other hand, soft water containing little or no minerals mentioned above.

The process is to decrease the calcium, magnesium, manganese and ferrous iron. Softener is a system transforming chemically hard water into a soft water.

Softeners replace calcium and magnesium in hard water by sodium. Sodium does not accumulate in the pipes and does not react to soap. This means that the effects of hard water are eliminated. The principle of the softening system is easy to understand. Hard water is allowed to enter the water softener. It contains a layer of plastic beads and in some cases, the material used is called zeolite. The layer of materials inside the water softener is soaked with sodium ions. Sodium is exchanged with the contents of hard water, calcium and magnesium. When the water exits the softener, water is said to be a soft water.

At one point in time, the plastic beads or a layer of zeolite is saturated with calcium and magnesium ions only. Regeneration process follows wherein water is mixed with the sodium content of high production of strong brine. The sodium ions replace calcium and magnesium ions, which are eventually washed down the drain.

When installed with domestic or household purposes, the softening system is at the main entrance of the piping system of the house. In this type of installation, all water entering the house is treated.

There are two main types of water softener systems. One is the single tank electric softener. This type, besides being expensive, is a system with some setbacks. Soft water supply may run out as the system uses a single tank. It can also cause discomfort, because this type needs high pressure. Night hours bring high pressure. The noise caused by the running motors is not welcome in these times.

The hydraulic twin tank softener is the other type of softener. This type ensures a continuous supply of fresh water for the home. The two tanks make the process of softening and regeneration as an alternative. Thus, there is no possibility of running out of soft water supply.

Salt containers should be refilled regularly. Most softening system has no level indicator. It is a wise decision to periodically check the level of salt to prevent contamination of water tanks. The softening is running continuously, even without salt, which can result in contamination of the tank.

Salt-based water softener systems are not one hundred percent effective. Only 75 percent of the calcium and magnesium content in water is removed. Salt-based softener also releases to the environment of large amounts of lime pickle.

A new developed water softening system is digital. Soo~Soft Digital Electronic Water Softening System is a revolutionary innovation in water-softening processes. It is environmentally friendly and as effective as a salt-type water softener.

Wonder Tree Use To Purify Water

2010-11-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

British scientists have discovered seeds that can purify drinking water without the use of costly chemicals. The crushed seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree of northern India attract and stick to bacteria and viruses, which can then be skimmed off or trapped in filter beds, reports The Times of London.

The versatile seeds can also be used to make cooking oil, soap, cosmetics, lamp fuel, and an ointment for skin infections. The tree is easy to cultivate, withstands drought, can act as a windbreak, and even provides fuel and pulp for making paper. Consequently, researchers recommend planting these trees to produce seeds that will help prevent millions of deaths every year that result from the drinking of contaminated water.

whole house water filtration systems

2010-11-03T14:39:00.001-07:00

How to install a whole house water filtration systems

Clean water is a precious resource. Today we almost have to take at least a part of the responsibility to keep our water clean, especially if our water supply is our own welfare. City and County water filtration can also benefit from additional taste and look better. Installation of whole house water filtration system for water cleaner, better tasting and peace of mind. How to install a whole house filtration system?

Instructions on how to install a set of water filtration systems in the house:

Step 1 - Take a look at the totality of many whole house water filtration system in the market. Deciding on the best one to meet your needs. Analyze the water to see what impurities in the water so you can determine that the system will give maximum benefits.

Step 2 - Pay for your system and take it home. Determine where you want to install it. This has to be near the central water line into the house, so you will need to locate this line.

Step 3 - Installation of all its internal system of water filtration by carefully following the instructions that come with the unit. Each unit will be a little different, but all involve cutting into the main water line entering your home.

Step 4 - Turn off the water at the main exit that comes to your home. Cut into the water line.

Step 5 - Connect the unit by using pipe fittings. Most times it will 1/4-inch of pipe fittings, and usually you can use copper or plastic, but check the specifications for the system you purchased. After connecting fittings, wrap the ends with Teflon tape to prevent leakage. Turn the water back and check for leaks.

Step 6 - Flush the whole house water filtration system completely after install. To do this, go to the nearest faucets and turn on the cold water. Let cold water run until the water runs clear.

reverse osmosis water treatment

2010-11-03T14:37:00.001-07:00

Reverse osmosis water treatment is a process in which water is forced through a semipermeable membrane that has very small holes or "pores". Clean water passes through and impurities that are too large to pass through the membrane are left behind and dragged.

How Reverse Osmosis Work?

Reverse osmosis water treatment is similar to the membrane filtration treatment. However, there are fundamental differences between reverse osmosis and filtration. The predominant elimination mechanism in the membrane filtration is straining or size exclusion, so the process can theoretically achieve perfect exclusion of particles, regardless of the operating parameters as influent pressure and concentration.

RO (reverse osmosis), however, involves a diffusion mechanism so that the separation efficiency is dependent on the influent solute concentration, pressure and flow rate of water. It works by using pressure to force a solution through a membrane, keeping the solute on one side and allow the pure solvent to pass to the other side. This is the reverse of the normal osmosis process, which is the natural movement of solvent from an area of low solute concentration through a membrane to an area of high solute concentration when no external pressure is applied.

Water chemistry is so complex and no single water treatment device can be used to remove any substances in water. Different drinking water treatment devices have their own advantages and disadvantages. Every household in particular to determine if there is a need for additional water treatment. If this is the case, identify the unit or combination of units best suited to your water needs.

Stages of reverse osmosis:

1. During initial phase of filtration, tap water or well water (pump pressure booster) is passed through a filter (a pre-filter) that removes sediment, silt, sand and clay particles that could clog the I / O membrane.

2. The water is forced through an activated carbon filter that traps minerals and contaminants such as chromium, mercury, copper, chloramines and pesticides. It also removes chlorine, which is important, as chlorine will shorten the life of the membrane.

3. Water pressure is transferred to the R / O module, allowing only clean water to pass through small pores in the membrane. The impurities cannot pass through the membrane are left behind and flushed down the drain.

4. Treated water is sent to a storage tank.

5. Treated water passes through an activated carbon filter before use to further improve water taste and smell.

Water containing hydrogen sulfide, manganese, iron, or must be pre-treated to extend the life of the membrane. A dealer can recommend the necessary pre-treatment.

Note: The reverse osmosis units produce no noise other than the sound of flushing down the drain (usually a sink or drain in the floor).

How Much Does Reverse Osmosis Units Cost?

Reverse osmosis unit prices range from $ 400 for a portable or under sink unit to $ 2,500 for a larger, stationary unit (basement), which installed a booster pump and a pressure system. Replacement Pre-filters range in price from about $ 100 - $ 200 each.

What are the benefits of Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis can remove dissolved solids, salts, minerals that cause hardness, organic chemicals and other impurities. It can improve water's taste for people who do not like the taste of minerals dissolved solids.

The treated water will not produce scale in kettles and coffee makers. Because eliminating sodium and potassium, people in a prescription of sodium or potassium restricted diet may benefit. R / O units can also remove contaminants such as chromium, mercury and nitrates. Before buying an R / O unit, verify the certification and literature for the special model to see exactly what can and cannot eliminate.

Is Reverse Osmosis - Treated water safe to drink?

Reverse osmosis removes minerals such as calcium and magnesium in drinking water. Water is a minor source of such minerals as compared with food. If you consume a reasonably balanced diet is not necessary to take a supplement of minerals in drinking water treated with a reverse osmosis system. Low levels of minerals in drinking water may be a concern for people living in countries with hot climates.

Factors affecting the quality of treated water and Quantity

Small units of reverse osmosis coexistence that operate in the domestic water pressure will produce one to five gallons per day. Many units of reverse osmosis water treatment are a manufacturer rated 80 psi supply pressure. Typical private water system pressure is closer to 30 to 40 psi, so that water production is often rated capacity about half the manufacturer.

Total dissolved solids in water.

Greater pressure is needed for reverse osmosis to remove higher levels of total dissolved solids. Many units of domestic reverse osmosis water treatment are 25 to 50 psi of pressure. These are only suitable for a maximum of 1,500 to 2,000 ppm total dissolved solids. If you use reverse osmosis to treat water that is higher in total dissolved solids than this, a booster pump will be needed.

Pressure

Water pressure affects both the quality and quantity of treated water produced. Basically, the higher the pressure, the more treated water produced and the better the quality.

Temperature

The optimal water temperature for most reverse osmosis membranes is 25 ° C. As the temperature drops to 5 ° C, the capacity of the reverse osmosis unit is reduced to less than half. Long, small diameter lines of the water supply will allow the water to warm up to room temperature (20 ° C) before reaching the membrane. This will increase the production of treated water.

Do I need to maintain the unit?

Reverse osmosis units should be maintained according to manufacturer's recommendations. Typically, the pre-filter sediment and pre-activated carbon filters must be changed at least annually. However, these pre-filters may need changing as often as once every six months if the water entering the unit contains sand, large amounts of chlorine or other substances that affect the efficiency of the filter. Although the membranes in a unit in good condition can last several years, the membrane may need replacing more frequently than the manufacturers suggested timeline.

Additional information is available through health inspectors, specialists in agricultural water or on the web.

Industrial Steel Tank Automatic

2010-11-03T14:36:00.001-07:00

Industrial Steel Tank Automatic Water Softener systems

The product from Pure Aqua has a steel tank and diaphragm valves. This particular product called Industrial Steel Tank Automatic Water Softener is sized assuming two different parameters, Exchange capacity, that is the quantity of water delivered between regenerations, and Maximum Flow Rate, which is the maximum quantity of water requited at any peak usage period. This exchange capacity depends upon the amount of ion exchange resin in the softener and upon the quantity of salt used for resin regeneration. The maximum flow rate is an important datum in case of non-continuous water delivery. It is measured in gallons per minute (GPM).

The STANDARD FEATURES of this unit:

The Industrial Steel Tank Automatic Water Softener (SF-100S Series) softeners are designed as fully automatic units either with timer or meter control. The timer control initiates softener regeneration at any predetermined time - on any or every day. The metered models start regeneration based on the total gallons used.

The steel mineral tank is engineered for a 100 psi working pressure and is tested to 150 psi. It is equipped with a manhole in the upper dome. The interior of the tank is coated with epoxy for protection against rust and corrosion. The exterior has a rust inhibiting primer coat.

A premium grade sulfonated nonphenolic polystyrene type resin is contained in the mineral tank. The resin will deliver 30,000 grains per cubic foot when brined at a rate of 15 lbs. per cubic foot. The brine tank is a combination of high density polystyrene brine measuring tank and a brine valve, including an air eliminator valve and a safety brine refill shut off to prevent tank overflow.

The automatic regeneration controller features a choice of 7 or 12 day calendar wheels. The time of regeneration and length of time for each regeneration cycle are fully adjustable.

The under drain utilizes either a hub and lateral or a header and a lateral system to evenly distribute water and prevent resin loss, and to insure minimal pressure drop at peak flow rates.

For more technical information about this model, please visit their website.

Whole house water filtration

2010-11-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Whole House Water Filtration Systems

Installing a set of the water filtration system of the house may solve a series of problems affecting water quality. Taste and appearance of drinking water have been improved through filters that remove chlorine and sediment. If you find that your laundry detergent does not work well in the washing machine or dishwasher spots on glasses, you can benefit from a system that removes the minerals that cause hard water. Before deciding on a system, there are some things you should know about the whole house water filtration system.

Identification

Filtration System removes contaminants from your water through a filter connected to the main water line. Any water that comes into your home passes through the filter before being sent to the faucets, toilets and household appliances. Two more filters were installed, but rather may be needed for larger homes. If sediment or chemical is not detected by the first filter, the second filter removes it. Filters should be replaced periodically.

Pollutants

The types of pollutants will be removed from the water varies depending on if you get water from a municipal system or a well or spring. If you have well or spring water, you may have to remove sediment, which is dirt, rust, sand or dust visible in the water. A well may also contain minerals such as iron and calcium and magnesium. These minerals cause "hard" water, resulting in scale deposits in pipes.

If you have municipal water, you have to remove sediment, minerals and chemicals such as chlorine used to treat the water. Your water company can provide an analysis of the contaminants found in their waters, but if you have well water or spring, you will pay a laboratory to test their water.

Features

Once you have determined which pollutants should be removed, you may decide on a system. If you have a problem with sediment, it takes a series of progressively smaller filters to remove any dirt or sand. If chlorine is the main pollutant, carbon filtration system to remove the chemical from your water. A neutralizing filter can treat the water or corrosive acids, while reverse osmosis can be used to eliminate parasites and viruses. If hard water is its only concern, you may want to purchase a water softening system instead of a filtration system.

Considerations

A whole house water filtration system can be costly, due to installation costs and the need to continually buy replacement cartridges. Before deciding to purchase a system, should take a look at your water needs and decide if the whole house system is what you really need. You may decide that you do not need filtered water in your bathroom and only on the faucets. No matter what system you choose, make sure the installer has the experience and service to the installation of that particular system and that the system meets national standards for water filtration.

Benefits

A whole house system eliminates the need to buy bottled water if the water tastes bad. It also increases the life of your plumbing system. While the water is from a municipal source, there can be a malfunction in the treatment process, exposing the contaminants. A whole house water filtration system provides you an additional protection for your family.

Having a whole house system also protects you from exposure to chlorine from your shower. When you turn the shower, the warm water facilitates the release of chlorine gas in the air. This gas can irritate the skin and lungs, which is a concern if someone in your household has allergies or asthma. Because a whole house system removes chlorine at the point where water enters your home, you no longer have to worry about chlorine exposure from any faucet.

Reverse osmosis water filtration

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published report that, no matter where we live in the United States is likely to be some toxic substance in our groundwater. In fact, the agency estimates that one in five Americans, supplied by nation's drinking water systems, consume to tap water that violates safety standards of the EPA under the Clean Water Act.

The most transparent solution to water pollution is a point-of-use water purification device. One of them is the reverse osmosis water filtration. The tap water consumed by our families, so this is the logic, and more efficient to prioritize water treatment.

• Different water purification technologies each has strengths and weaknesses, and are especially effective at specific types of impurities or toxins.

• Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filtration are complementary processes.
The combination of results in the most effective treatment against the broadest range of water impurities and contaminants.

• Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification technology that uses normal water pressure in homes to force water through a selective semi-permeable membrane that separates water contaminants. The treated water leaves from the other side of the membrane, and accumulated impurities left behind have been cleaned. Eventually, sediment accumulates along the membrane and needs to be replaced.

• Reverse osmosis is very effective in removing several impurities from water: total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, asbestos, lead and other heavy metals, radium, and many dissolved organics.

• RO is less effective from other substances. The process will remove some pesticides (chlorinated and the organophosphates, but not others), and most heavier-weight volatile organic compounds.

• However, RO is not effective in removing volatile organic compounds lighter weight such as THM (chlorine by product) and TCE (trichlorethylene), and certain pesticides. These compounds are tooRepeated Word small, too light, or the wrong chemical structure to be controlled by a RO membrane.

Note: RO systems have two major drawbacks.

• First, waste a lot of water. They will use anywhere from 3 to 9 liters of water for every gallon of purified water produced. This could be a problem in areas where conservation is a concern, and may be a bit expensive if you're paying for municipal water. Moreover, this wastewater can be recovered or redirected to purposes other than drinking, such as watering the garden, washing the car, etc.

• Secondly, reverse osmosis water is slow: it takes 3 to 4 hours for a residential RO unit to produce one gallon of purified water. The treated water can be removed and stored for later use.

whole house water filter system

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How to choose a system for whole house water filter

A whole house water filter system is installed on the main line that comes into your home. The sand, silt, iron and other impurities in the water are removed before traveling through the lines to your faucets, toilets, washing machines and other appliances. That way, all the water in your home is filtered. Learn how to choose the right whole house water filter system by following the simple steps below.

Instructions on how to find the best whole house filter system that suits you.

Things You'll Need: water test

Step 1 - Determine what type of impurities - sediments, minerals, and / or chemicals are present in the water in your home. That is, the water contains sand, iron, calcium chloride? Sand in the water will plug the screen of cold water in the washer. Iron telltale signs are orange stains in the bathtub and toilet bowl. Calcium leaves the white hard deposits. The water smells like spoiled eggs often contains hydrogen sulfide.

Step 2 - Determine exactly what is in the water making the test. If you have municipal public water, contact your local water plant for analysis. If you have a private well water, you can have it tested by a laboratory. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service or the agriculture department at a university to find a water tester.

Alternatively, you can buy a water testing kit at a home store and do it yourself.

Step 3 - Check the main water line enters your house. Watch to see how much space is available for the line. Some filter systems whole house water filter housings that have are quite large in diameter. You may want to measure the space to determine the magnitude of a unit that can accommodate.

Step 4 - Determine how much flow rate the whole house water system filter you choose should have. This rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM), will determine how fast water will flow into your home after having been filtered or treated. The volume required depends on the size of your home. It will also be determined by the flow of water from shower, flush toilets and dishwashing needs.

Step 5 - Visit the plumbing department at your local home improvement store. First, find the set of water filtration systems of the house that remove impurities that are in your water. Then compare the size of the housing and the flow of each unit. Also, check the guarantees of each system, and the price and availability of replacement filters before making your final decision.

Tips & Warnings

The water flow rates from 10 to 40 gallons per minute. The size of the main water line that comes into your home, no matter when choosing a whole house water systems filter. If the diameter is 1 inch, the typical size of the inlet and outlet pipes in filtering systems, can use the adapters to fit pipes.

Pure Water — A Wonder of Nature

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WATER is not something that can be used only once. For thousands of years people have used the same water that you now use every day!

The purification process that takes place in the natural creation, letting generation after generation enjoy pure water, reflects great wisdom. At the same time, humans have a responsibility to cooperate with this system so that it can work without undue interference.

Self-Purification System

The heat from the sun evaporates water from the surfaces of the oceans, lakes and other bodies of water, as well as from damp surfaces. This evaporation lifts tremendous amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere every day. Even if these waters or surfaces happen to be dirty or salty, the vaporized water is almost pure.

In time, this water returns to the earth as rain (or snow). At the same time it helps to purify the air by taking with it dust and other substances. When it reaches the ground, it gives a cleansing rinse to the vegetation and other surfaces. Some of the water flows into rivers, and some soaks into the ground.

Yet, when you draw up groundwater from a good well, it is not dirty. It has become good, pure drinking water! What has happened to make it that way?

When the water soaks into the ground, it is first of all purified mechanically, in that the soil acts as a filter. Solid particles that were in the water remain in the soil as the water passes through it.

However, in water there are also organic impurities and other ones that are not removed by the filtering action of the soil. But the purification of water from these also has been arranged.

Biological Purification

The impurities that are not removed from water by filtering through the soil are handled by biological purification. In this process, countless different microorganisms in the soil go to work on the impurities. As the water slowly soaks into the ground, bacteria and other organisms use the various impurities in the water as food. Their digestive system breaks down the impurities into matter that vegetation can use as nourishment.

As the water is being purified in this way, it absorbs various beneficial minerals from the soil. These also serve to improve its taste as drinking water. So this is why the groundwater in many places is good drinking water without any further purification.

There is also a similar, wonderfully designed water purification process taking place in the rivers, lakes and oceans. The greater part of the solid impurities sink to the bottom of such waters, and the biological process takes care of other impurities. Rainwater washes into the bodies of water great amounts of nutrients from the soil. This includes various nitrogen and phosphorous compounds, as well as countless different substances. Microorganisms in the rivers, lakes and oceans work on these substances, breaking them up into nutrients that the water plants can use for food. When bodies of water get these nutrients adequately, balance is preserved and the water remains sufficiently pure.

Too, when water plants get sunlight they produce oxygen in the water. Microorganisms and fish need this oxygen in order to live. Thus, the entire arrangement is a marvel of order, cooperation and efficiency.

Man-made Problems

Nature’s self-purification system worked well without any problems for thousands of years. But gradually people began to come together in ever-expanding cities, causing problems with the balance of nature.

In early times, drainage systems were constructed in cities. These discharged untreated sewage and waste directly into bodies of water. It could be said that this was the beginning of water pollution. In time, the natural purification process was overwhelmed. Thus, many of the rivers flowing through cities gradually became foul-smelling, open sewers.

What happens when too much waste is discharged into a body of water? At first, microorganisms multiply quickly, as do plants. So the water begins to get muddy. In order to produce oxygen in the water, the plants need sunlight. But the muddiness of the water prevents the light from penetrating below the surface. Thus, the plants that are deeper under the water begin to die and decompose.

The decomposition of the plants uses the oxygen in the water faster than the living plants can produce it. Gradually the oxygen supply is exhausted. This, in turn, means that the microorganisms and fish that are dependent on oxygen die.

Increasing population and the growth of industry have led to problems like this in many places. Due partly to ignorance and partly to indifference, vast amounts of waste and poisons have been discharged into the water. The natural purification process cannot neutralize these quickly enough.

As a result, some very dangerous substances have found their way into plants, fish, birds and humans. Gradually, the need for laws governing the handling of waste became evident. And when action has been taken to improve a polluted body of water, a marked improvement has resulted. But how is this accomplished?

Waste Water Treatment

The treatment of waste water has been the key factor. The methods used take advantage of the natural biological purification process. Let us take a look at what happens to waste water as it goes through a typical treatment plant.

Since there are large solid substances in waste water, it is first filtered through a screen to strain out these large solids. Then the water flows slowly through a small basin where the heavy substances, such as sand, sink to the bottom, from where they are cleared away. This basin is called a grit chamber.

Next the water flows into a large sedimentation basin, where it moves slowly for one or two hours. Here the dirt or sludge in the water sinks to the bottom, from where it can be pumped out.

At this point, however, there are still a lot of organic substances in the waste water. So the water is next channeled into the biological stage for “high-powered treatment” by microorganisms. In large treatment plants this is generally done by adding a concentration of microorganisms to the waste water when it comes into the aeration tank. As the tank’s name suggests, air or plain oxygen is blown into the water. The microorganisms now have an abundance of both oxygen and food in the waste water. So they multiply rapidly and effectively break down the impurities.

After this, a clarification tank is needed to separate the microorganisms from the purified water. They sink to the bottom in this tank and the relatively clean water can now be discharged into the lakes or rivers. However, such water may still contain much bacteria, some of which could cause disease. For that reason this water is usually disinfected with, for example, chlorine or ozone to kill dangerous bacteria.

Improved Purification

In the past few years many countries have been trying to improve their treatment of waste water. Their goal is to remove phosphorous and nitrogen compounds from the water more effectively. Human excreta and many detergents contain a lot of phosphorus, of which only about a third is removed by biological treatment.

Phosphorus would cause the growth of algae in the water unless it was removed. So a chemical that precipitates or attaches to itself more than 90 percent of the phosphorus in water is added after the biological treatment has been carried out. Then it can be gathered as sediment from the bottom of the tank. Aluminum sulphate or iron sulphate, which are waste products from industry, can be used for this purpose.

Other chemical-physical methods also have been adopted in order to achieve a greater degree of purity. Among these are absorption on activated carbon or other absorbents, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation.

It is clear that the building of plants for treating waste water, and the treatment itself, are quite costly. But it is part of the price that must be paid for the concentration of population and industrialization. Realizing how valuable pure water is, most people will no doubt be willing to sacrifice something so that the natural cycle of this vital liquid can continue relatively undisturbed.

home water filtration systems

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Choosing a good home water filtration system

Water filtration systems at home remove contamination from tap water. The most common use is carbon or reverse osmosis filtration. Look for certification by NSF International, which sets the rules.

Recommendations on how to find the best home water filtration systems:

Step 1 - Test your water to see how much and what type of filter you need.

Step 2 - Decide if you want a faucet-mounted system, which is cheap and easy to install, but requires frequent filter changes or an online system that mounts directly to your plumbing system. The latter is more expensive but more comprehensive, and filter changes only required occasionally.

Step 3 - Look into an NSF certified carbon filter for either system if the test comes back with chlorine, chloroform, pesticides or organic chemicals. Carbon filters are not effective for lead or other heavy metals, fluoride, chloroform, or some microbial contaminants.

Step 4 - Consider investing to get an in-line reverse-osmosis home water filtration systems, if your water test sample shows sodium, ferrous iron, nitrates, lead, fluorine or organic contaminants. Note that a reverse osmosis system puts out a limited amount of water and wastes a lot of water (approximately 4 gallons of waste water per gallon of clear water). If the count of calcium in your water is high, you have to use a water softener system.

Step 5 - Consider a system with a cutoff meter (also known as a performance indication device) that lets you know when it's time to change the filter.

Tips & Warnings

1, install a sediment filter before the carbon filter to remove a solid carbon block.
2 Read product claims for removal and choose a system designed to treat your water conditions.
3 for more information about water filtration, please contact NSF International at www.nsf.org.
4, None of these filter types will solve hard-water problems.

Water Softener Systems

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This site compares the different water softener systems available in the market. We provide information, facts, and a "guide" for you to get the most appropriate for your particular needs. We discussed here the advantages and disadvantages of the methods of higher water softener along with the recommendations and where to shop.

Hard water causes

Hard water comes from underground aquifers and other sources that collect the dissolved minerals from rock, especially calcium, magnesium carbonate, and manganese. These minerals give water undesirable characteristics, which together are bent hard. The severity of the hardness is measured by grains (of mineral) per gallon (GPG) or, in some cases, parts per million (PPM). These two measures are related: 17.1 ppm equal 1 GPG.

Technically, any water that contains more than 1 GPG of dissolved hardness minerals is considered hard, but realistically, the water from 0 to 3.5 GPG is relatively soft. In water over 10.5 GPG is very hard. Between those extremes is typical, moderately hard water.

What is a water softener system?

Water softener systems reduce the dissolved calcium, magnesium and manganese in some degree of iron and iron ion concentration in hard water. A common water softener is a sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 formula.

These "hardness ions" cause three major types of undesirable effects. Most visibly, metal ions react with soaps and calcium sensitive detergents, hindering their ability to foam and the formation of a precipitate the familiar bathtub ring. The presence of hardness ions also inhibits the cleaning effect of detergent formulations.

Secondly, calcium carbonate and magnesium tend to precipitate as hard deposits on the surfaces of pipes and heat exchanger surfaces. This is mainly caused by the thermal decomposition of the bi-carbonate ions, but also true to some extent, even in the absence of these ions. The result of scale buildup can restrict water flow in pipes. In boilers, the deposits act as an insulation that impedes the flow of heat in the water, reducing heating efficiency and allow the metal components of the boiler to overheat. In a pressure system, this can lead to failure of the boiler.

Thirdly, the presence of ions in an electrolyte, in this case, hard water, can also lead to galvanic corrosion, in which one metal corrodes preferentially when in contact with another metal, when both are in contact with an electrolyte. However, the sodium (or potassium) ions released during the non-conventional water softening are much more active than electrolysis of calcium or magnesium ions replace galvanic corrosion and is expected to be substantially increased by the softening of water and not decreased. Similarly, if any lead pipes in use, softened water is likely to be substantially more solvent Plumb-hard water.

Water Softener System - How it works?

The treated water passes through a bed of resin. Negatively charged resins absorb and bind metal ions that are positively charged. The resins initially contain univalent hydrogen, sodium ions or potassium, which exchange with divalent calcium and magnesium ions in water. As the water passes through the resin column, the hardness ions replace the hydrogen ions of sodium or potassium that are released into the water. The "harder" the water, the more hydrogen, sodium ions or potassium are released from the resin and water.

Resins are also available to remove the carbonate, bi-carbonate and sulfate ions that are absorbed and hydroxyl ions released from the resin. Both types of resin can be provided in a single water softener.

The benefits of owning a water softener varies depending on the type of water softener systems that you choose. About all the benefits of owning a water softener weighs heavily to the contras. Increased efficiency of appliances, energy saving, fewer aggressive cleaning agents removes tough stains to clean, saving the environment, no water wasted, without maintenance are some of the advantages of having a softener water (benefits may vary depending on the type of water softener that have chosen).

What water softener should I get?

We discussed the pros and cons on the water softener system, its up to you to choose the best and in your budget. In this article, we cover all major brands of water softeners.

Fleck water softeners and GE AUTOTROL have been at the top of the water conditioning in the market for many years. Both manufacturers have demonstrated excellent reliability and with the least number of pieces of meaning fewer repairs.

Another excellent brand is SoftSorb Salt Free Anti-Scale Water Conditioner. SoftSorb systems use proven technology that really works. All water conditioning systems SoftSorb comes with 1 year replacement warranty.

Here are some of the excellent products from Sofsorb water softener:

Softeners Timer: The system timer is older technology that still works today. Basically, the water softener is set to regenerate after a certain number of days, regardless of the amount of water used. This is fine, but you can use the same amount of water each day. Thus, the water softener would regenerate sooner or later, depending on how much water is used resulting in higher costs over time. The demand for water softeners: A vision or a measured system is newer technology that counts each gallon of water used for the system can regenerate only when necessary. If you use the water twice or half the amount of water as usual, the system knows. These systems of water conditioning cost more when you buy, but save on operating costs in the long run.

No salt water conditioners: SoftSorb Salt Free Anti-Scale Air conditioners incorporate SP3 media Filtersorb catalyst to change the calcium and magnesium dissolved in water. The media build SP3 Filtersorb heat-resistant glass of lime water is not removed, but they are isolated, far from the heat of the prevention of tartar. This is a new technology that has been tested and proven over the last 5 years. SoftSorb is a great alternative to salt based water softeners - No electricity, no sewage, no salt is always necessary.

Another major manufacturer and wholesale distributor of reverse osmosis systems, and components for both industrial and commercial applications is Pure Aqua, Inc.
Pure Aqua Products have earned a great reputation in the industry for its high quality and superior performance.

The company located and can be reached by phone or mail at 2230 South Huron Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92704 U.S., Phone: +1-714-432-9996 and Fax: +1-714- 432-9898, e-mail to sales@pure-aqua.com or visit them on at www.pure-aqua.com
They have a wide range of water treatment systems offered by PURE AQUA INC divided by category.

Membrane processes: Products in this category are as follows;

Seawater / Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, Ultrafiltration, two passes reverse osmosis systems, micro filtration
Ion Exchange Systems category is: Co-Current/Counter-Current cation and anion units, Mixed Beds, Dealkalizers, condensate polishing, automatic softeners.

Clarification of the team category: clarifiers, lime softeners

Filtration and pretreatment equipment category: Multi-Media, Activated Carbon, Iron Removal
Horizontal and vertical filters, cartridge filters, bag filters, sterilization and removal of TOC, UV and ozonation, chlorination and disinfection, Lake Water Treatment
Pure water systems for the category are: pharmaceutical systems, semiconductors, boiler feed systems

Water Softeners and Water Softener model systems from Pure Aqua, Inc below.
Industrial / Commercial

Water Softeners

1. SF-100S
Steel Tank - Diaphragm Valves Softeners

2. SF-110F
FRP Tank - Diaphragm Valves Softeners

3. SF-150S
Steel Tank - Top Mounted Valves Softeners

4. SF-200F
Fiberglass Tank - Top Mounted Valves Softeners

5. SF-250A
Fiberglass Tank - Top Mounted Valve Softeners

6. SF-900F

Fiberglass Tank - Twin Softeners Systems

With the experience of Pure Aqua’s softener systems, you will receive cost-effective solution that creates value for you while reducing your costs.

There are many manufacturers and distributors of water softener systems worldwide. Select the best for your needs.