EcoPure MW_MW40_450216 - Manual (Page 12)

..................................................AUTOMATIC WATER SOFTENER
WATER AND WATER CONDITIONING
WATER
...........................................................................................................................................................................
Man’s very existence depends on water. It is one of
the basic commodities of life. Water is best as nature
provides it, is a common misconception. Practically all
natural water needs refinement or treatment to make it
safe to drink or more satisfactory to use.
The earth’s water supply cycle starts in the upper
cloud layers. As it falls to the earth as rain or snow, it
picks up impurities and gases from the atmosphere.
Landing on earth, it seeps over and through the
ground, dissolving earth minerals. Passing through
limestone, it dissolves calcium and magnesium, the
hardness minerals. Iron deposits impart iron to the
water. Acidity and sediments are other water
conditions.
Municipal water supplies come from surface
reservoirs, such as lakes and rivers, or from
underground
reservoirs. Usually, municipalities
chlorinate the water to make it safe to drink. Sediment
is removed by filtration. Tastes and odors are reduced
or eliminated. The water is conditioned to comply with
certain specifications. However, hardness minerals,
tastes and odors are not always reduced to the most
desirable levels.
Underground reservoirs provide our private water
supplies. Because the water is raw and untreated, it
can have varying amounts of hardness, iron, tastes,
odors, acidity, or combinations of these. Different
localities and water levels affect mineral content.
WATER CONDITIONING.................................................................................................................
Water conditioning is the treatment of four general
conditions. These are: Hardness, Iron, Acidity,
Sediments.
HARDNESS is a term to describe the presence of
calcium and magnesium minerals in water. A chemical
analysis accurately measures the amount of minerals
in grain weight. For example, one gallon of water with
five grains per gallon (gpg) hardness has dissolved
minerals, that if solidified, about equals the size of one
ordinary aspirin tablet. One gallon of water, 25 gpg
hard, has a mineral content equal in size to 5 aspirin
tablets. Water hardness varies greatly across the
country. It generally contains from 3 to 100 gpg.
Hard water affects living in general. Hardness minerals
combine with soap to make a soap curd. The curd
greatly reduces the cleaning action of soap.
Precipitated hardness minerals form a crust on
cooking utensils, appliances, and plumbing fixtures.
Even the tastes of foods are affected. A water softener
removes the hardness minerals to eliminate these
problems, and others.
Sodium Information: Water softeners using sodium
chloride (salt) for regeneration add sodium to the
water. Persons on sodium restricted diets should
consider the added sodium as part of their overall
intake.
IRON in water is measured in parts per million (ppm).
The total* ppm of iron, and type or types*, is
determined by chemical analysis. Four different types
of iron in water are: ! Ferrous (clear water), "Ferric
(red water), # Bacterial and organically bound iron, $
Colloidal and inorganically bound iron (ferrous or
ferric).
*Water may contain one or more of the four types of
iron and any combination of these. Total iron is the
sum of the contents.
!
Ferrous (clear water) iron is soluble and dissolves
in water. It is usually detected by taking a sample of
water in a clear bottle or glass. Immediately after
taking, the sample is clear. As the water sample
stands, it gradually clouds and turns slightly yellow or
brown as air oxidizes the iron. This usually occurs in
15 to 30 minutes. A water softener will remove
moderate amounts of this type of iron (see
specifications).
"
Ferric (red water), and # Bacterial and organically
bound irons are insoluble. This iron is visible
immediately when drawn from a faucet because it has
oxidized before reaching the home. It appears as
small cloudy yellow, orange, or reddish suspended
particles. After the water stands for a period of time,
the particles settle to th bottom of the container.
Generally these irons are removed from water by
filtration. Chlorination is also recommended for
bacterial iron.
$
Colloidal and inorganically bound iron is of ferric or
ferrous form that will not filter or exchange out of
water. In some instancesces, treatment may improve
colloidal iron water, but always CONSULT A
QUALIFIED WATER CHEMISTRY LAB before
attempting to treat it. Colloidal iron water usually has a
yellow appearance when drawn. After standing for
several hours, the color persists and the iron does not
settle, but remains suspended in the water.
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