There’s only one way to remove grains out of the water – through ION exchange. And the only way to do this is by installing a Water Softener. Water Softeners install on your main water line where you water enters your home. In this way, all the water to all your plumbing fixtures gets softened, which is actually better for your plumbing and fixtures as there is no Hard Water Buildup.

West Coast Water Filtration offers three different Water Softener Models. Our Defender model is good for small to medium sized homes or homes with a lower flow requirement. Our Hydronex model is good for medium to large homes and our Filtramax model is good for large to extra large homes or home with higher flow requirements.

Water Softeners
In many areas of the country, water is “Hard”. Water described as “Hard” is high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not a health risk, but a nuisance because of mineral buildup on fixtures and poor soap and/or detergent performance. The only way to Soften Hard Water is to remove the dissolved minerals. The typical water softener is a mechanical appliance that’s plumbed into your home’s water supply system. All water softeners use the same operating principle: They trade the minerals for something else, in most cases sodium. The process is called ion exchange and results in Soft Water.

Reverse Osmosis
Basically, a Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System makes ordinary tap water into Clean, Clear, Odor Free, Great Tasting Water. Reverse Osmosis is a process in which dissolved inorganic solids (such as salts) are removed from a solution (such as water). This is accomplished by household water pressure pushing the tap water through a semi permeable membrane. The membrane (which is about as thick as cellophane) allows only the water to pass through, not the impurities or contaminates. These impurities and contaminates are flushed down the drain. Most Reverse Osmosis Systems also have Pre Filters consisting of Sediment Filters, which remove sand silt, dirt and other sediments. The Reverse Osmosis Membrane is next in the system, followed up by a storage tank and Post Filters. Post filters are typically Activated Carbon or Carbon Block Filters. Any remaining tastes and odors are removed from the product water by post filtration. Activated carbon filters remove/reduce many volatile organic chemicals (VOC), pesticides and herbicides, as well as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethane (THM) compounds, radon, solvents and hundreds of other man-made chemicals found in tap water.

So, as you can see, each system performs a specific function. Depending on the water in your home, you may need one or the other, or often times both systems working together are the best option.

The best way to tell which type of filter you home may need is to have a qualified technician come out to your home and test your water. They can tell you how hard your water is and also the benefits each of these systems can have for you and your family.

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In a 5 stage Reverse Osmosis system, there is typically a Sediment Filter, followed by the first Carbon filter, then the Membrane and two post Carbon filters. The three carbon filters remove all chlorine from your tap water, as well as other unwanted chemicals.

So, the water that comes from your Reverse Osmosis filter, assuming your filters have been changed according to schedule, will be 100% chlorine free.

The answer to your question really depends on how hard your water is before it is softened. The following table shows the amount of sodium added to ONE quart (One Liter) of softened water. As a comparison, a quart is approximately four 8 ounce glasses of water.

So, how does this compare to the sodium content in common foods?

*It is important to note that about 2/3 of the daily water intake of any individual is through food and only about 1/3 is from water itself.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Reprinted from MayoClinic.com

Regular tap water contains very little sodium. The amount of sodium a water softener adds to tap water depends on the “hardness” of the water. Hard water contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium. Some water-softening systems remove calcium and magnesium ions and replace them with sodium ions. The higher the concentration of calcium and magnesium, the more sodium needed to soften the water. Even so, the added sodium doesn’t add up to much.

An 8-ounce (237-milliliter) glass of softened water generally contains less than 12.5 milligrams of sodium, which is well within the Food and Drug Administration’s definition of “very low sodium.” The majority of sodium in the average diet comes from table salt and processed foods. Thus, the best way to decrease the sodium in your diet is by cutting back on table salt and processed foods.

If you’re on a diet that calls for very little sodium and you’re concerned about the amount of sodium in your softened water, talk with your doctor. He or she may suggest testing the sodium concentration of your water or switching to a type of water-purification system that doesn’t replace magnesium and calcium with sodium. Another option is to soften only the hot water and use unsoftened cold water for drinking and cooking.

By Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.

Some systems also claim to alter the hard minerals like calcium and magnesium so that they are less likely to stick to the plumbing. Although these systems work under laboratory conditions when the water is tested within close proximity to the system, the “Conditioning” of the minerals has yet to be proven in a working environment such as a residence, as the minerals change back to their original state after a short period of time.

In regards to the second part of your question, water hardness is measured in grains per gallon. The harder the water, the more grains per gallon it will have. Soft water, according to the definition by the Water Quality Association, will measure zero grains per gallon of hardness. To achieve truly soft water you must bring down the grains of hardness in your water to zero grains. The only cost effective way to accomplish this is with a traditional water softener using either salt or potassium chloride.

While salt-free systems have their place in filtering the water and removing chlorine and chemicals, they DO NOT remove hardness grains from the water and thus, do not soften your water.

Septic Systems:
According to a report issued by the Water Quality Research Council, water softeners do not have any detrimental effect on septic systems and may actually enhance their performance in certain situations by encouraging the growth of additional bacteria.

In fact, the flow from the softener is typically less than the waste water discharged from an automatic washing machine. The studies credited the high levels of calcium and magnesium present (in the flow that results when the softener cleans itself) with improving soil percolation in many instances.

The studies were conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the National Sanitation Foundation.

Calcium and magnesium are picked up by water as it passes through the ground. Municipal water systems do not remove these minerals during their filter process, sending them directly into your home. When water gets on shower doors, shower heads or anything in your home, as it dries, it leaves behind these minerals, which ends up as a hard, crusty, white deposit. Not only are they unpleasant to look at, they are very difficult to remove.

The best way to fight these hard water deposits is to not have them in the first place. One of the only ways to get rid of hard water deposits, is to get rid of hard water. To do this, you will need a water softener.

As tap water enters the water softener, it passes through a material called Resin, which removes Calcium and Magnesium, leaving behind soft, clean water. Not only will you notice cleaner shower doors, you will also feel it on your skin and especially your hair. It will also leave your clothes cleaner and softer after going through the wash. Not only will things be cleaner, you will also save money as you require much less soap, shampoo and laundry detergent when you have soft water.

Unknown to most consumers, most bottled water is actually municipal tap water filtered through large Reverse Osmosis systems. It is then bottled up and sold, usually at very steep prices. Having your own reverse osmosis system will save money and also the environment as there are no plastic bottles involved.