The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

Softening Up Hard Water

By Joseph F. Harrison P.E., CWS-VI
March 7, 2006
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 85 percent of the United States has to cope with hard water. While hard water is not considered to be unhealthy for people to drink, it can be very unhealthy for household plumbing, cleaning processes and water-using appliances.

Effects of hard water. A blocked pipe.


According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 85 percent of the United States has to cope with hard water - water with excessive levels of calcium and magnesium. While hard water is not considered to be unhealthy for people to drink, it can be very unhealthy for household plumbing, cleaning processes and water-using appliances.

The minerals in hard water form a hard scale that can shorten the life of plumbing fixtures and appliances. For example, scale build-up can decrease the life of toilets by 70 percent and faucets by 40 percent, according to a report published by the American Water Works Association. Hardness scale also can shorten the life of washing equipment, dishwashers and washing machines by as much as 30 percent, according to the AWWA report.

Scale also tends to form on the heating elements and heat-transfer surfaces of water heaters. A New Mexico State University study determined that scale build-up can reduce a gas water heater's efficiency by as much as 29.57 percent, and an electric water heater's efficiency by as much as 21.68 percent. Another study conducted by the Office of Saline Water, U.S. Department of the Interior, found that a water heater's useful life can be reduced by as much as 50 percent through scale build-up.

Figure 1 ­ How water softener exchangers work. Illustration courtesy of Water Quality Association. Click image for larger view.

What Is Hard Water?

The problems associated with hard water have been known for quite some time. Earlier generations coined the phrase “hard water” because they found it hard to clean with. They collected soft rainwater in a barrel to be used in laundering and other cleaning operations ­ hardly an option in the modern world.

The U.S. Department of the Interior classifies water hardness based on the grains per gallon (gpg) concentration of hardness minerals, typically calcium and/or magnesium. To put this in perspective, a typical aspirin equals about 5 grains of material. So if you dissolved an aspirin in a gallon of water, the water would contain 5 gpg of aspirin. That doesn't sound like much, but such a minor level would be enough to make water hard.

Water containing 1 gpg to 3.5 gpg of calcium and/or magnesium is classified as slightly hard; water in the 3.5 gpg to 7 gpg range is considered to be moderately hard; at 7.0 gpg to 10.5 gpg, water is considered to be hard; water greater than 10.5 gpg is considered very hard water. On the other hand, soft water contains less than 1 gpg.

Even if your customers have hard water, they may not know there's a problem since it is difficult to see or taste any difference between hard and soft water. But there's no doubt there's a difference when it comes to cleaning with even moderately hard water.

Effects on Cleaning

All water-based cleaning and washing is less effective and less efficient with hard water. Cleaning with hard water requires greater physical effort and the use of greater quantities of cleaning agents for surfaces such as floors, sinks and bathtubs. It also leads to spotting on dishes and glassware.

Let's take a further look at one common job around the house ­ washing clothes.

Hardness minerals affect laundry in a gradual manner that tends to get hidden in today's automated washing process. People accustomed to washing in hard water may not notice the increased detergent use, yet the waste still is there. Soap was the primary cleaning agent for laundry before the development of synthetic detergents. Soap usually is made from natural fatty acids and alkali substances, such as caustic soda, which give it excellent cleaning properties. This is particularly true with vegetable-based fabrics like cotton.

Soap works well to suspend dirt in the wash and helps “lubricate” the fabric, prolonging its life. Unfortunately, hardness minerals combine with soap to produce insoluble “curds” that remain as a residue on washed laundry and in washing machines, and also tend to counteract soap's alkalinity. Even additives designed to overcome this problem tend to be less than effective.

Most modern detergents also contain additives to increase the alkalinity, but unfortunately, the builders tend to be consumed when the detergent needs to soften hard water. This limits their ability to clean and requires the use of greater quantities of detergent. The latest generation of concentrated liquid detergent does somewhat compensate for this.

Hard water also influences fabric life and fading, according to a 1991 Purdue University study. The study indicated that fabrics washed in hard water tend to wear out up to 15 percent quicker than fabrics washed in soft water. This probably is due to the presence of hardness residues in the fabric, making it stiffer and more brittle, leading to increased friction and wear as the fabric flexes.

The Purdue study also found that hard water generally has a negative effect on colors and whites. Colors were found to fade and whites to darken more quickly in hard water. In addition, the study found that laundry washed in hard water became resoiled with greater ease.

A water softener by Water-Right Inc.

Soft Water Solutions

Softening hard water typically involves the use of an ion-exchange water softener (see Figure 1). A typical water softener works on the principal of “cation exchange” in which the ions of hardness minerals (an ion is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms) are exchanged for sodium ions, effectively reducing the concentration of hardness minerals to insignificant levels.

As the water enters the softener, it passes over a resin bed in a special tank. The resin is made up of tiny inert beads of styrene and divinylbenzene that attract and hold sodium or potassium ions. These inert beads will exchange these ions whenever they encounter another ion such as calcium or magnesium.

After a period of use, the sodium or potassium ions are completely exchanged and the unit has to be “backwashed” or “regenerated,” which recharges the resin beads with sodium or potassium ions. This requires the use of sodium or potassium chloride, which is loaded into a “brine tank” where it dissolves in water, forming a brine used to recharge the system.

The recharging generally is done by one of two common methods ­ automatic softeners, which initiate the process on a set time cycle according to anticipated need, and the demand-initiated regeneration process, which uses a meter or sensor to monitor the actual hardness levels or the amount of water the unit has processed.

A note for people concerned about the presence of sodium ions in their water: Use of sodium ions does not make the water noticeably salty or cause a significant increase in a person's sodium intake. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines water that would result from softening 75 gpg hard water - where much more sodium ions would have to be exchanged than typically is the case - as a “low sodium” beverage.

Whatever type of system is used, the applications can be quite affordable and highly worthwhile for those in hard water areas. A typical household water softener costs around $1,000 to $2,000, with a monthly operating expense of around $2 to $10 if sodium is used.

Hard water can cost your customers hundreds of dollars each year as it affects laundry operations, water heater efficiency, household cleaning and the life expectancy of plumbing fixtures and appliances. When it all adds up, hard water is a waste that can be done without. The solution to these problems is as easy as installing a water softener. ND

Hard water will be a key element of “Basic Water Treatment,” part of the WQA Aquatech USA 2006, March 28 ­ April 1 in Rosemont, Ill. The seminar will include an overview of fundamentals for water-treatment professionals, as well as point-of-use/point-of-entry treatment technology, including cation exchange water softening, residential reverse osmosis, filtration, carbon adsorption and deionization. For more information, visit www.wqa.org.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Joseph Harrison, P.E., CWS-VI, is technical director of the Water Quality Association, Lisle, Ill. He may be reached at 630-505-0160. Prior to joining the WQA in 1990, Harrison was chief, safe drinking water branch for Region V of the EPA for 17 years.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Opinions
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Markets
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Pumps
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • What Is Reverse Osmosis?

    See More
×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP