It can be tempting to have water softeners installed in your home, particularly in East Anglia, where the water coming out of your taps is likely to be ‘hard’. Here Gilson Environmental Services, sewage treatment plant installers in Suffolk, Norfolk and across East Anglia, explain what is meant by hard and soft water, and why a softener could cause problems if you aren’t connected to the mains water supply.
The Background Science
Many homes have what is known as ‘hard water’. This means the ground the water travels through contains a lot of rocks with a high calcium carbonate content, which ends up in domestic and commercial water supplies. So-called ‘soft water’ doesn’t have calcium (and magnesium) in the water. If they are present, it is in far lower concentrations
Water coming out of taps in East Anglia (where Gilson Environmental Services operate) is likely to be hard. There is nothing wrong with ‘hard water’ as such, it is still perfectly OK to drink from the tap, and because it is high in calcium it is good for your bones and teeth. Brewers say it also helps with beer too!
So, Why Fit a Water Softener?
However, there are some issues with hard water. It means your appliances, such as shower heads and kettles, need descaling regularly because limescale builds up over time. It can also produce scum on the top of a cup of tea as the minerals react with the tannin in the tea.
It also means it’s hard to lather up because you have to use a lot more soap or detergent to wash yourself, or your clothes properly, compared to those living in so-called soft water areas. Although, it is worth bearing in mind, that some say you get cleaner quicker without the lather.
For the same reasons, it means you have to use a tablet in your dishwasher to ensure everything is clean and prevent the build-up of limescale.
Water supply companies don’t want to remove the calcium and magnesium because it would be such a massive undertaking that would mean everyone’s bills would increase. That is why some people choose to have water softeners fitted in their homes.
These are usually fitted under the kitchen sink and use an ionising resin to replace the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ones, reducing the problems of scaling and lathering.
Water Softeners and Non-Mains Drainage
However, this means the so-called ‘regenerant’ or ‘backwash’ water created by the softener contains large amounts of brine (salty water) when it is discharged. This will effectively mean that septic tanks and sewage treatment plants won’t work as effectively as this will ‘pickle’ the tank and stop the ‘good’ bacteria from breaking down the sewage – an integral part of the whole process. This may lead to a build-up of sludge and your tank may need emptying sooner than usual.
The only circumstances in which water softeners can avoid causing any damage is if the backwash water ends up in an independent soakaway or drainage field and, even then, there is a greater likelihood of it clogging up, as the salt can bind with clay soil, creating a waterproof barrier. This has the effect of reducing the efficiency of your tank or sewage treatment system, and increasing the number of times you need to have it emptied.
So, if your plumber (or water softener supplier) tries to sell you a product which they say will improve the quality of your water, and you aren’t connected to the mains, then you should probably take it with a large pinch of salt – literally! More seriously, it’s worth asking for a softener that doesn’t use a salt-based system.
Gilson Environmental Systems – Sewage Treatment Plant Installers in Suffolk
At Gilson Environmental Systems, we will do everything we can to keep your sewage treatment plant or septic tank – whether it’s in Suffolk, Norfolk or further afield – in good working order.
This starts from the installation or commissioning process, and continues with our excellent aftercare service, from emptying tanks, to servicing in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
And, if anything does go wrong, we also offer a round-the-clock emergency service. For more information about this click here or call us directly on 01473 741530.
Recent Comments