Water softening is a process that targets the removal of calcium and magnesium ions, the primary culprits behind water hardness. Hard water can lead to several issues, such as mineral buildup in pipes, reduced efficiency of water heaters and appliances, and difficulty in forming lather with soaps and detergents. The presence of these minerals causes scale deposits, which can clog pipes and reduce the lifespan of household and industrial equipment.
The most common method of water softening involves an ion exchange process. In this process, water flows through a tank containing a resin bed made up of small, porous beads that are charged with sodium or potassium ions. As the hard water passes through the resin, calcium and magnesium ions are attracted to the beads and exchanged for sodium or potassium ions. This exchange effectively softens the water by reducing the concentration of hard minerals.
