Water softeners remove minerals from hard water through an ion exchange process. This requires salt, electricity, and a regeneration cycle that periodically flushes water down the drain. Water softener use is restricted in a number of drought affected regions across the US because treatment plants are unable to remove salt, making the reclaimed
water unusable for irrigation or recharging aquifers.
|
OneFlow TAC |
Water Softener |
Process |
Physically binds hardness ions together to
prevent them from forming scale |
Exchanges hardness ions with sodium ions |
Maintenance |
Media or cartridge replacement range is from 1 to 3 years depending on the system selected |
Periodically refill with salt |
Drainage |
None required |
Regeneration waste water with high mineral and
salt levels |
Electricity |
None required |
Required |
Benefits |
Scale formation prevented
Low life cycle cost
Permitted in locations with restrictions on
water softeners
Small installation footprint
No salt, electricity or drainage required |
Scale formation prevented
Water feels soft
Soaps foam better
Dishes have less soft mineral deposits |
Drawbacks |
Soft scale may form on external surfaces (easily removed with damp cloth) |
Purchase, transportation and storage of salt
Requires drain and electricity
Requires bypass plumbing to provide untreated water for plants
Treating hard water can cause high salt levels in drinking water
Municipal treatment plants have difficulty removing added salt from reclaimed water making it unsuitable for irrigation or recharging aquifers |