Water Softener Benefits

Water softener benefits and installation.

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Benefits of water softener

Water softener benefits are mostly economical. After installing a water softener, you will discover a reduction in the amount of soap and detergent being used. There will be a reduction in the cost of maintenance and replacement of pipes, water heater, and other appliances. There will be a reduction in water bills because less water will be used for laundering and dish washing. Dishes will look spotty due to mineral deposits from hard water. There will be less stained clothes coming out of your washer.

Other water softener benefits are health-related. You will drink healthy water due to the removal of calcium and magnesium. Minerals in hard water may be healthy, however, our body can only endure a limited amount of these minerals. Even, a low dose of these chemicals can be unhealthy. In addition, softer water can help dry skin conditions.

Water conservation is one of the benefits of water softener. It is an environmentally friendly way to use a device that will save water and save the bottom line. There will be a reduction in the amount water being used around the house. This will reduce the amount of wastewater being sent to your local wastewater treatment plant.

Installing a water softener
The water softening system is installed in the main water pipe that enters the house. Softeners are generally separated from the water line being used for outside activities such as lawn and garden.

A bypass valve is installed so that the house water is treated. If you are not a do-it-yourself person, a licensed plumber or the supplier of the softener may be hired to do the job.

It is recommended to install a water filter after the water softener in order to complete the home water treatment process. It could be a whole house water filter, counter-top water filter, or a faucet-mounted water filter. An improper installation can can result in water sofener problems. When this happens, a licensed plumber knowledgeable in water softener trouble shooting may be needed.

One drawback is that during the water softener regeneration, waste from the softener will be very saline. Salt solution is needed in the process of water softening. However, some wastewater treatment plants may not have the capacity to accept and treat additional saline wastewater without exceeding its NPDES permit limit for chlorides. Therefore, before you install a water softener, it is good to investigate if your local authority can allow any discharge of additional salt water into its sewer systems.

Do Water Softeners Have Any Environmental Benefits?

Water softeners have been banned by several local governments due to issues with quality of wastewater discharges from softeners. Wastes from these devices are high in chlorides which end up in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Chlorides removal is an issue in most WWTPs; inabilities to remove chlorides below permit limits could result in excessive regulatory fines.

However, some areas of softener benefits are being ignored. There are reductions in detergents being sent to the sewer systems which are typically high in phosphates. Although most WWTPs have the capacity to reduce phosphates in their effluent discharges, if not adequately removed it can result in eutrophication in surface water. EPA indicates that levels greater than 1.0 mg/l may interfere with coagulation in drinking water treatment plants.

The most forceful argument in support of softener�s environmental benefits is detailed in a study published in the February 2007 Water Conditioning & Purification Journal titled Water Softeners Significantly Reduce Green House Gases. The authors utilized the common Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to compare the consumption of detergent, bottled water and water heater against water treatment devices such as ion exchange, and undersink reverse osmosis filter. As described by EPA, LCA is a �cradle-to-grave approach for assessing industrial systems that evaluates all stages of a product�s life. It provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects of the produce or process.� It is an investigation of the environmental impact of a given product or service will cause during its useful life.

The Journal concluded that about 15,319 lbs of carbon dioxide is being reduced annually. This amount is compared to what 1.3 vehicles will emit in a year based on an annual average of 12,100 miles of driving per vehicle. With this amount of reduction, it is assumed that most modern water softeners could be classified as �green.�