Softening the water refers to the act of actively removing certain particles from the water. These hard particles include magnesium salts and dissolved calcium salts from the water. Water that contains these particles is undesirable for industrial use. This is largely because water with such particles tends to compromise industrial equipment and can also be detrimental to their functioning.
Importance of water softening
Water that has not been properly softened is likely to leave a residue. Additionally, it could also be reactive to soap and other cleaning materials. To measure the hardness of the water, you have to use a particular measurements system. This system is called grains per gram, or GPG. Water with zero GPG is perfectly soft, and one with a GPG reading of 20 or higher is incredibly hardened.
That being said, there are many advantages of soft water. As hard water flows through plumbing, it allows the minerals in the water to deposit. Over time, the accumulation of these deposits can lead to lower water pressure. This lower water pressure inside the tubes can lead to leaks and other damages that result in costly repairs. Therefore, softening the water prevents this issue.
Typically, a water softening device consists of a fill tube, dip tube, resin, gravel, and other components that aid the filtering process. The process starts when water enters the system and comes in contact with the resin bed. This starts the softening process as minerals like calcium and magnesium attract to the resin bed as water passes through.
By the time the water escapes the softening device, it softens and flows up and out of the distribution tubes and into a particular facility’s location for use. At some point, the resin bed inside the softener device fills up with calcium and magnesium. In this instance, one has to carry forth the process of regeneration.
Does Reverse Osmosis Soften Water?
Reverse osmosis is a comprehensive and meticulous water purifying technique. This method emphasizes the workings of a semi permeable membrane and a pressure gradient. Despite having a sediment filter in the reverse osmosis filter, it cannot thoroughly remove minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the water. These are minerals that give water its undesirable hard qualities.
This is why installing a softener alongside a reverse osmosis plant is beneficial. Integrating a softener with the RO device will also positively impact the reverse osmosis process. Without proper softening, the water that runs within the reverse osmosis system can leave mineral deposits inside and compromise the membrane’s lifespan.
Verdict
Water softening is a process through which you can make water less reactive to other compounds. On the other hand, reverse osmosis is a detailed way to filter out water and purify it. You cannot expect the water softener to purify the water. Similarly, you should not expect the reverse osmosis system to soften the water either.
Final Words
Overall, industries can benefit vastly from utilizing both methods. Running softened water across the reverse osmosis plant allows you to retain the original condition of the RO membranes. This, in turn, helps save hefty maintenance, repairs, and replacement costs. Thus, it is beneficial to combine the two procedures together and have them work collectively
