What is a water softener and why do I need one?
Water softening is the process of reduction of the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water. These "hardness ions" can cause a variety of undesired effects including galvanic corrosion, interfering with the action of soaps, and the build up of limescale, which can foul plumbing.
Why is there a movement away from traditional water softeners?
A traditional water softener is a type of device in which the user must pour in bags of rock salt or potassium chloride on a regular basis. The reason some communities have either placed a ban or are considering a ban for these types of devices is that they discharge hundreds of pounds of salt brine into the sewer system each year. That salt brine poses a problem because agricultural fields and approximately 80% of the public area landscaping are irrigated with recycled water, and salts cannot be cost-effectively removed from wastewater during the recycling process. Traditional water softeners need an on going maintenance and they also remove healthy minerals from the water.
