What is Hard Water? When it rains, water permeates the land and rocks that it falls on, carrying with it various minerals and salts from the land, such as calcium and magnesium.   These calcium and magnesium minerals make the water ‘hard’ and are responsible for causing scale when the water is heated. In addition, they can also impair the taste of the water and prevent it from working as effectively with detergents. Where is it found? The hardness of water varies greatly depending on local geography.   In the UK, water is particularly hard in the south-east of England and scale formation is therefore a greater issue in this region. UK Map showing hard water areas Scale-formation Scale-formation is the hard, white deposit that is found in your kettle and is primarily caused by the calcium carried in water.  Calcium salts are unusual in that they typically become less soluble at higher temperatures, therefore meaning that any water system which heats water is particularly vulnerable to the impact of scale-formation. Where is it found? Scale-formation can be found wherever there is a hot water supply, taps, kettles and pipework for example. Hard water significantly increases scale-formation. The hardness of water varies greatly across the UK, depending on local geography. What problems does it cause? Scale-formation is not dangerous in it-self but does bring with it a number of unwelcome side-effects.   Scale significantly reduces the efficiency of your water system; clogging up components and slowing down      water-flow, as well as increasing the risk of contamination.   Research has shown that if your system has 12mm of scale, it can add a staggering 70% to your organisation’s energy bill.   What can be done? Essentially there are two solutions to this problem.   Physical water conditioning Water softening Legislation New Building Regulations came into force in England and Wales during 2000. In 2006 Part L was revised to include two new documents: L1A & L1B. These regulations specifically deal with the fuel and power efficiency of buildings. The Domestic Heating Compliance Guide is a supporting document and states: “Where the main water hardness exceeds 200ppm, provision should be made to the water heaters and water circuit of combination boilers to reduce the rate of accumulation of lime scale” This means there is now a legal obligation to conserve heat and power in new building design. When retrofitting to existing systems and to provide adequate water treatment to control “the rate of lime scale accumulation.” Health and safety advisers also suggest that a standard drinking water tap should always be supplied. The reason for this is that softened water is rich in sodium which is unsuitable for babies and those with certain medical conditions.

Theory: *Theoretical information and classification  Water Hardness    Studies: *Study on hard water and  link to childhood eczema  www.purechoice.co.uk/  eczema_art.php    Industry information: Cost of hard water Scale in heating devices *Benefits of hard water  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1  /hi/health/3396141.stm

Physical Water Conditioners are products designed to minimise the effects of scale build-up.. Types of Physical Water Conditioners There are various types of Physical Water Conditioners. In essence, the different types all work on the same principle.  They all alter the physical structure of the hard water crystals, making them easier to dispose of and do not require any chemicals to do this.   Some, such as the magnetic and electrolytic conditioners, do not require a mains electricity supply.  Electromagnetic and electronic conditioners however, do need to be connected to the mains electricity.   Choosing the correct type of conditioner very much depends upon the reason for installing the equipment.  The conditioners all work in a similar way but with varying degrees of strength and effectiveness, for example an electromagnetic conditioner is more powerful and effective than a magnetic solution.   Those not connected to mains electricity are generally more suited to use on individual appliances within the home.  Those on the mains electricity are typically more suited to treating an entire water system in a house or for larger-scale industrial installations. How does a Physical Water Conditioner work? The various types of Physical Water Conditioners operate in different ways.  Some solutions are fitted externally onto pipework but these are generally deemed less effective than the conditioners that are installed as part of the water system. Other conditioners produce electric fields that repeatedly cross the water flow, causing the physical change to the hard water crystals, while some do the same using an electrostatic charge.   Ultimately, all types of conditioner aim to change the structure of the hard water crystals. With water treated by a physical water conditioner, ions – previously separate positive and negative ions – are brought together into clusters of at least one positive and one negative ion.   These clusters of ions (or nucleation points) attract and hold the hardness minerals, meaning that most are discharged with the water.  Those that remain form the softer, far less problematic type of scale that can be wiped away without difficulty.  To achieve maximum benefit, the water needs to have been heated and the crystals formed within 48 hours.   In summary, all conditioners work towards the same goal but with varying degrees of effectiveness.  Not all types will handle commercial or industrial water volumes. For more information on the HYDROMAG unit follow this link.

Studies:  *City University 1991 – Thesis Academic study on Hydromag physical water treatment Trade articles:   *Articles from Water Purification & Conditioning Magazine http://www.wcponline.com/PDF /`0305%20whoreport.pdf Industry information: Detailed information on the Hydromag Click here for the Hydromag FLASH presentation.

When running large commercial premises, the consequences of hard water issues are far-reaching. Leave      scale-formation to its own devices and your business will incur considerable maintenance and repair costs,        not to mention any associated downtime. What will a water softener achieve? For water softeners to work, salt has to be added as part of the process. Therefore a water softener – unlike a physical water conditioner – will change the chemical composition of your water supply. Your water however, will become clear and soft. As a result it will eliminate scale formation, work more efficiently with soaps and detergents, and could help certain skin conditions. It is recommended however, that there is always a separate water supply that is maintained for providing potable drinking water. It is worth noting that hard water and its associated scale formation can also be addressed by a physical water conditioner. Each method has its own unique benefits; it’s simply a question of deciding which best suits your specific needs. How does a water softener work? Water softeners – whether they are for domestic or commercial purposes – all work by removing the calcium and magnesium ions that make the water hard. There are, however, varying degrees of sophistication and efficiency across the various range of softeners on the market.  All water softeners consist of three key parts: a resin tank, brine tank and a control panel. The softeners work by using an ion-exchange resin contained within the resin tank. The hard water flows into the tank whereupon the calcium and magnesium ions are removed and replaced with sodium. Now softened, the water is then sent out to the main supply. Water is then drawn upwards through the resin, lifting the hardness and taking it away. Next, the exact amount of salt water is passed through the salt tank, creating brine. The brine is then passed through the resin tank. The more advanced water softeners use a series of intensive rinses to ensure maximum removal of hardness from the tank. The computer control regulates the regeneration process that takes place once the water is softened. Sophisticated softeners can record water consumption patterns, in doing so regulating the water and salt used and ensuring that only the required amount is used. For more information on the HYDROION units follow this link.

Theory: Water softening principles Studies: *WHO report on Hardness in Drinking Water (incl. details of other research on softened water)http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_ health /dwq/chemicals/hardness.pdf Trade articles: *Water Softeners: http://www.wcponline.com/PDF /0304%20Water%20Softners.pdf *Article on Water Softening – yesterday, today and tomorrow www.wcponline.com/PDF/ softtodaytomorrow.pdf Industry information: *Useful information on salt: