Water Softeners And Phosphates

[leafs]

Would anyone know if water softeners add phophates to the water? I don't have a phosphate test kit at the moment but I was just curious.

Thanks

 

[JamesMac]

Household water softeners operate on the ion exchange process. In this process, water passes through a media bed, usually sulfonated polystyrene beads. The beads are supersaturated with sodium. The ion exchange process takes place as hard water passes through the softening material. The hardness minerals (calcium & magnesium) attach themselves to the resin beads while sodium on the resin beads is released simultaneously into the water. No phosphates are used in this process.

Hard water treated with an ion exchange water softener has sodium added. According to the Water Quality Association (WQA), the ion exchange softening process adds sodium at the rate of about 8 mg/liter for each grain of hardness removed per gallon of water.

On the other hand, water softening additives (packaged softeners) do use complex phosphates to sequester calcium and magnesium ions.

JamesMac
(also from Toronto! go Leafs go)

 

[leafs]

Thanks for the info. That's good to know. I didn't think anyone was going to reply. Go Leafs Go! Hopefully they'll start winning some more.

 

[Discomafia]

Not if the Sens have anything to say about that, they won't... B)

 

[mikenas102]

They'll both fall to the Devils! Actually the Devils just put a good whoopin on the Sens recently.

 

[leafs]

I see we have some hockey fans here. I must admit, I'm not expecting my Leafs to go very far this year. I think the Sens will go all the way. Devils are starting to play better also.

 

[Discomafia]

They'll both fall to the Devils! Actually the Devils just put a good whoopin on the Sens recently.

Yea, I was watching that game on Wednesday night as I was eating dinnner. Not fun... And we got trashed by the Bruins the day before that... I dunno what is it with the Devils and Sens, they have a bit of history, after the Devils knocked us out of the Eastern Finals in 03'... Another heartbreaking game... Anyways, I feel a bit out of place talking about this in the plant forum, so I'll stop now...