Hardness of water. The problem of hard water and ways to soften it at home

This is water in which dissolved salts and alkaline earth metals are found in large quantities. Water hardness is mainly affected by calcium and magnesium, the compounds of which are the main hardness salts.

Rigidity determines not only the possibility, but also its use in domestic or industrial needs.

Taste Hard water is very easy to distinguish - it is extremely bitter. Sometimes the bitter taste of spring water is due to the presence of hardness salts.

By appearance can be found out after boiling. In this case, the salts precipitate, which is easily visible at the bottom of any vessel.

Classification of water by hardness

In Russia, water hardness is measured in degrees of hardness, but it can also be expressed in volume fraction or mass number.

An officially accepted unit of measurement that is used in the SI system ( international system of units) – moles per cubic meter. But in practice, the listed units of measurement are not used, preferring milliequivalent per liter (mg-equivalent/l).

Based on the level of hardness, water is divided into four types:

Soft water (less than 2 milliequivalents per liter);
Normal water (from 2 to 4 milliequivalents per liter);
Hard water (4 to 6 milliequivalents per liter);
Very hard water (6 or more milliequivalents per liter).

This classification is called American and is most often used when assessing water hardness.

There is a similar classification in degrees of hardness, but it represents only 3 types of water:

Soft water (less than 2 degrees hardness);
Water of medium hardness (from 2 to 10 degrees hardness);
Extremely hard water (10 degrees hardness or more).

Water hardness standards

Water hardness standards in Russia and the world differ greatly from each other. In Russia, water is allowed whose hardness does not exceed a threshold of 7 milliequivalents per liter, that is, It is not prohibited to supply the population with very hard water.

The same figures in Europe cannot be higher 1,2 milliequivalents per liter. This means that Europeans drink soft water, the hardness of which is almost six times less than that established in Russia.

Types of water hardness based on susceptibility to heat treatment.

First type - temporary hardness, when in addition to calcium and magnesium, they are found in water hydrocarbonate anions. It is also called carbonate. It is easily removed by boiling water and does not affect the human body in any way.

Second type - constant hardness, also called non-carbonate rigidity. It is caused by the presence of calcium and magnesium compounds formed as a result of interaction with strong acids, for example, sulfuric or nitric. Such hardness is not removed by boiling water, because salts of this type do not disintegrate under the influence of temperature.

Overall hardness water is calculated by summing the indicators of carbonate and non-carbonate hardness.

The highest hardness values due to the abundance of dissolved salts are determined in sea and ocean water. The hardness of surface water is usually several times less than groundwater and moisture from underground sources.

Damage caused by hard water

Let's consider the negative impact of excessively hard water on the human body, household appliances and communications. The higher the hardness parameter, the stronger the value of each type of harmful effect.

Harm to human health and pets

High rigidity promotes growth of urinary stones and the development of urolithiasis. This is due to the accumulation of salts that simply do not have time to be eliminated from the body.
Hard water when washing dries out the skin. This is due to the appearance of “soap slag” formed from soap, which is not capable of lathering and dissolving in hard water. These soap slags clog the pores, preventing them from breathing freely, as a result of which skin inflammations can develop and haunt the itching and burning of the skin.
The formation of a thin crust on the hair destroys the natural fat film. This happens in the same way as on the skin of the hands - "soap slag" are not washed out and gradually accumulate. This may cause itchy scalp, dandruff and even hair loss.
The effect of very hard water on animal health is no different from the effect on the human body. There is a high risk of developing urolithiasis. For pets eating dry food, this risk increases several times. Problems with hair and skin may occur in both dogs and cats when they are bathed regularly.
Cooking process slows down, due to the numerous salts, the meat is poorly cooked. This leads to poor protein absorption and can cause gastrointestinal diseases.

Damage caused by hard water to equipment and household items

Due to the presence of large amounts of salts in water, soap products are extremely foams poorly and removes dirt. Therefore, the amount of powders, detergents intended for washing dishes and other household chemicals will have to be increased sharply.
In addition to poor foaming of soap products, due to contact of hard water with them streaks and hard deposits form on plumbing fixtures and the surface of dishes, as salt deposits form. Such deposits are difficult to wash off dishes and also negatively affect plumbing fixtures, gradually destroying their surfaces.
In the process of heating water in electrical appliances, salts do not simply precipitate, but crystallize and fall out in the form of scale. It is scale that is the main reason for the rapid breakdown of water heating devices.
Hard water leaves stains, stains and dirty deposits on freshly washed items, the color fades, prints and designs become gray. It is very difficult to get rid of them and this, again, requires increased consumption of detergents. Fabric washed in hard water becomes rough and inelastic because the salts clog up all the free space in it. The strength of clothing and linen decreases.

Harmful effects of water with increased hardness on communications

Hardness salts, just like on household appliances, precipitate or crystallize, forming on the surface of communication paths and large devices and installations scale. Scale thins the walls of communications, subsequently completely destroying them.
The abundance of hardness salts precipitated or scaled leads to frequent failure large water heating installations, such as boilers.
In circulating water supply systems, scale deposits, water stones and salt sludge are formed reduce cross-country ability pipes, and heat transfer decreases. Water pressure drops, the amount of water in radiators decreases, water inlets and outlets from houses become clogged, which can lead to complete blockage of communication networks. All this increases energy costs.

At home, the most rational way to reduce water hardness is to purify water for drinking and cooking from excess salts. Ideally, water for any use in the home should be filtered.

But at the same time, we must not forget that the stiffness indicator must be equal to a certain average value. Water that is too soft is also of no benefit. It increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in humans, flushes salts from the body, causing the rapid development of rickets and thinning of bones. In communication systems, soft water causes corrosion of metal pipes.

A high concentration of calcium and magnesium makes water hard. The components settle on the walls of the washing machine and kettle in the form of scale, reducing the service life of household appliances. The more additives in the water, the worse the soap and powder foam, so during washing you have to use not one package, but two. Magnesium and calcium can accumulate in the body, causing health problems. To ensure that your equipment lasts a long time and your loved ones don’t get sick, you should clean and soften the water.

High temperatures

Boiling kills harmful bacteria and turns impurities into carbon dioxide and sediment. An electric kettle is not suitable for this procedure. You will need a saucepan, the volume of which depends on the purpose of the water: if it is used for cooking or tea, a five- or ten-liter container will be enough. Options with a capacity of 20 liters or more are suitable for washing or bathing. But boiling such volumes of liquid every day is quite time-consuming, and monthly electricity bills will increase significantly.

You can soften drinking water by pouring it into a saucepan or iron kettle. Place the container on the stove and turn on medium or high heat, and when it boils, reduce to low. The water should sit on the burner for 45–50 minutes, then remove it and allow it to cool. The liquid should be left to settle for about a day, or longer, so that the metals precipitate. Carefully drain the clean water, being careful not to allow any solid particles to rise from the bottom and remain in the pan.

Water from an electric kettle is softened in a similar way. If there is liquid left in the device after preparing tea, you need to carefully pour it into a jug or glass jar, hiding the container from direct sunlight. It will take 12 hours for harmful metals to precipitate and the water to become drinkable.

Boiling has two significant disadvantages:

You will have to regularly descale the pot or kettle, or buy new dishes every year.
High temperatures contribute to the evaporation of useful components and oxygen, so this water cannot be used for watering indoor flowers and should not be boiled again.

The taste of the liquid that has undergone heat treatment is also not pleasing. You should alternate boiled water with distilled water, otherwise the digestive system will suffer.

Cold way

Magnesium and other salts freeze at very low temperatures. The laws of physics can be used to soften and purify water. Simply fill a glass jar or pan with liquid and place the container in the freezer. In winter, the balcony serves as a refrigerator.

You will have to control the freezing process, because you need to wait until 75–90 percent of the water turns into a piece of ice, but a small amount remains in a liquid state. It is in those 25–10% that salts will remain, which are drained into the sink. Thaw homemade iceberg at room temperature and use as directed. This water retains oxygen and some useful components, so it is suitable for watering plants and daily consumption, cooking and washing.

Do you need to soften well water for washing or bathing? If there is a large metal bathtub or several plastic barrels on the farm, the containers should be hidden under a canopy or in the shade. Fill them with liquid and leave for 3–6 days until sediment appears at the bottom. The top is carefully drained, and the remainder with impurities is drained away from the trees and garden. Rainwater is also purified in a similar way, but it does not guarantee one hundred percent results.

Simple and useful

Reduces the concentration of salts and silicon. The material has long been lined with the inside of wells and laid in several layers on the bottom. Silicon wafers are also used in city apartments. To soften drinking water, you need to collect it in a separate jar or pan, and immerse several pieces of washed and sterilized silicon in the liquid. Leave for 2-3 days, or better yet, a week, so that the plates absorb the salts. The water will become softer and tastier. The mineral will make drinking liquid not only clean, but also healthy, because it gives it useful components. Silicon water is used in alternative medicine for the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.

The method is only suitable for small amounts of liquid, from which you can make tea or food, or consume it in its “raw” form.

Neutralizes salts and baking soda or soda ash. The first component is more harmless and does not dry out the skin, so it is added to the face wash. Mix water, cold or slightly warmed, with soda at the rate of a quarter teaspoon per 250–500 ml. Stir until the additive is completely dissolved, wait 5–15 minutes and wash. The calcined variety is more aggressive and has whitening properties. This soda is added to water for washing clothes or clothes. 1-2 teaspoons per 10-15 liters of liquid is enough. The component can be immediately mixed with washing powder so that it foams better and removes even difficult stains.

Soda ash will protect the walls of the washing machine from scale; it is also used to clean an electric kettle. It is not recommended to drink water with this additive.

Tip: Add baking soda to pea or bean soups. The water becomes softer, and the beans interrupt the taste of the additive. The main thing is not to overdo it with soda.

Natural options
If tap liquid dries out the skin, it is recommended to take the required amount into a separate container and combine it with fruit or vegetable juices. Dilute 50 to 100 ml of natural ingredient in 250 ml of water and stir. Instead of juices, you can take a little brine from cucumbers or cabbage. The acids that are present in the additive react with metal salts and neutralize them.

Almond bran has also proven itself well. The sweet nut seeds are pressed and oil is squeezed out of them, and the dry cake is turned into thick slabs that are sent to the mill. The workpiece is crushed and added to cosmetic products. Almond powder should be diluted with water: a glass of liquid per tablespoon of the ingredient. The drink is suitable for washing and other hygiene procedures.

Cosmetic and laundry soap
You can prepare water for washing or bathing using soap shavings. For the first case, a household variety will be useful; for the second, you should stock up on a cosmetic or handmade version. Cut a small piece from the block and grate it to make 15–20 g of chips (a full heaped tablespoon). Fill a half-liter jar of water and add soap. Stir until foam forms and the component is completely dissolved. Pour water from the tap or from a well into a barrel or pan with a volume of 10–12 liters, add a soap solution. If there is a lot of foam, a few more liters of clean liquid are needed.

Infuse all night or day. During this time, the soap components will react with heavy metal salts and convert them into a sediment that will fall to the bottom. In the morning, carefully drain the clean liquid and mix with 2-3 tablespoons of boric acid. The solution for the big wash is ready.

Laundry soap will protect your automatic washing machine from scale. Cut a quarter or less from a whole block, wrap the piece in a cloth or bag and put it in the drum. All that remains is to load the laundry, add the usual portion of powder and start the equipment.

Dishwasher detergent
In household chemical stores you can find softening salts sold in tablet form. The product is placed in the dishwasher to prevent the formation of scale on heating appliances and improve the condition of plates and pots.

Cocktail for watering plants
Hard water is also harmful to house flowers. Irrigation liquid can be prepared from wood ash, which will neutralize impurities and protect plants from rot and bugs. Dissolve 3 g of natural ingredient in a liter of water and leave for a little while. You can strain it or pour it along with pieces of ash.

An alternative option is peat. You will need 10 g of the component per liter of water. Stir thoroughly and moisten the soil in flower pots.

Filters and their varieties

Fans of home remedies try to solve the problem of hard water using soda, ammonia or borax, but such methods cannot cope with all harmful impurities. The optimal and more modern option is filters.

Jugs are in demand due to their cute design that fits into the kitchen interior and affordable price. There is a replaceable cartridge inside the device. The substances that are in the filter plate retain salt molecules and purify the water. The jugs are practical and effective, but the cartridge will have to be changed once every month to a month and a half, depending on the concentration of impurities.

Ion exchange and magnetic options
The device, consisting of two powerful magnets, creates a strong field that attracts metal particles. Water passing through such a filter becomes softer. The method does not use chemicals, but its effect on the human body has not been studied. Such devices are often used in boiler rooms to purify water that flows through pipes.

Ion exchange type softeners consist of two reservoirs: the first is filled with a special resin, the second contains a saline solution. Water softening occurs in two stages. The liquid, entering the compartment with the resin, gets rid of calcium and magnesium salts, iron particles and other impurities. Thanks to the saline solution, the water is saturated with sodium, so it becomes softer. It can be drunk, used for washing and hygiene procedures.

Reverse Osmosis Technology
A reverse osmosis filter will cost a hefty sum, but this option is the most optimal for a private house and city apartment. It is suitable for softening aquarium and drinking water. The device is placed in the room and connected directly to the water pipe.

Water enters the first reservoir filled with a concentrated solution. There it is cleaned of heavy metal salts, and then, under the influence of high pressure, it moves into the second section of the filter. Here the concentration of the solution is lower. The substance makes particles of harmful impurities heavier, and they are retained inside semi-permeable membranes.

The water that comes out of the filter resembles distilled water in composition. The only drawback of such a system is that it removes both harmful and beneficial minerals. The composition of the liquid has to be restored to make it suitable for drinking. Reverse osmosis technology can be used to purify water used for bathing, dishwashing or laundry.

Washing machine filter
The dishwasher is protected from scale by softening salts, and the washing machine is protected by a magnetic ball. Inside this specific filter there is a tip that attracts metal molecules. The magnetic field does not allow harmful impurities to settle on the pipes and at the same time cleans the device from a layer of hardened plaque.

Particles of iron and magnesium seem to scrape off plaque, and it comes out along with the drain water. If you use a magnetic ball during every wash, you can increase the life of your washing machine and save money. Soft water means less powder and electricity, because the scale-free tent heats up faster.

Tip: Magnetic filters are installed only on clean pipes. Before installation work, scale is removed using vinegar or citric acid. The layer of frozen plaque does not transmit electromagnetic waves, so the device is useless.

Water purification and softening products may seem too expensive or complicated, but the effort and money spent will pay off quite quickly. The fewer harmful impurities in the liquid, the more economical the consumption of washing powder, shower gels and shampoos. Soft water means healthy kidneys and gallbladder, beautiful skin and the key to the well-being of all family members.

Video: how to deal with hard water

07/06/2018 1 1 179 views

In city apartments, tap water can hardly be called soft. It contains too much iron, calcium and magnesium salts. Let's look at how to soften hard water at home. It has a bad effect on the condition of hair, nails, and skin. Also, because of such liquid, household appliances and equipment deteriorate.

Hardness depends on the region of residence and the presence of limestone rocks in the ground. It manifests itself in sediment on the washing machine and scale on the kettle. Detergents will not help you work at full strength in such water. The liver and urinary tract suffer, and kidney disease appears. To soften liquid, there are many methods to explore.

What can cause water to be hard?

Water hardness increases due to excessive amounts of calcium and magnesium salts and iron. It is measured in mg. eq./l and mol/cub. m. The phenomenon occurs due to groundwater, where there are many salts of chemical elements.

To determine the level of hardness, a conductivity meter should be used. This is a special device used to measure the electrical conductivity parameter. An increased rate indicates an excessive amount of metal salts in the liquid.

When boiling, a sedimentary mass appears from chemical salts. A significant amount of compounds penetrates the body and settles on household appliances.

Main indicators of hard water:

insufficient foaming of cleaning products;
the appearance of light plaque and scale after heating;
white marks on dishes and clothes when treated with water;
negative impact of washing on the operation of the material;
pathologies of the excretory system and skin;
taste of bitterness.

There is a classification in degrees according to the level of hardness:

Soft (0-2). Characteristic of places where there are a lot of peat bogs and swamps. This includes melted ice.
Medium (2-7). This species is found in almost the entire region. Basically, medium-level liquid is supplied from a well or well for private homes.
Hard (7.1-11). It is present in areas with an overabundance of chemical salts and pollutants. It has a negative impact on people's health.
Super hard (11 and above). This water is located near mines and caves. It cannot be used as drinking water.

Water hardness is also divided according to the level of chemical components in the composition:

Constant. It contains metal salts and aggressive substances. They are resistant to disintegration during boiling. To soften you will need to buy a filter.
Temporary. Calcium and magnesium salts are not always present in it. After heating, decomposition occurs and a precipitate appears. These compounds can be removed by simple heat treatment.

How to soften liquid with your own hands?

The main options for reducing the hardness of tap water:

boiling;
freezing;
use of reagents;
use of softening filters.

Heat treatment is the easiest method. Under the influence of high temperatures, the ionic bonds of chemical elements are destroyed, and a precipitate appears. Then this liquid can be added to drinks and used for household chores.

Boiling algorithm:

Fill the kettle with water and wait until it boils.
Cool to lukewarm temperature and pour into a new container.

The most complicated option is boiling the liquid for an hour and then letting it sit for 24 hours. With the help of heat treatment, vapors of carbon dioxide, chloride compounds, metal salts, and mechanical impurities disappear.

Boiling is very common and does not cause difficulties, but this method has disadvantages:

rapid appearance of limescale, which is difficult to remove;
not used for caring for indoor flowers;
possible deterioration in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
change in organoleptic characteristics.

The level of hardness can be reduced by freezing. The method is based on the effect of low temperatures on salts of chemical elements with the appearance of crystals. The liquid softens slowly without changing its structure.

Step-by-step algorithm:

Pour water into a bowl and put it in the freezer.
After freezing more than 50% of the liquid, get rid of the sediment, because harmful elements accumulate in it.
After thawing, the water becomes potable and can be used for cooking, watering plants, and treating clothes made of delicate materials.

The main disadvantage of the method is the difficult preparation of a significant amount of melt liquid.

Softening with reagents is an effective option for eliminating metal salts. The following tools are used:

Baking soda. It reduces acidity and salts. To process clothes you will need 2 tsp. for 11 l, for cooking - 1 tsp. for 3 l.
Soda ash (acoustic). It is used to soften water, which is used for economic and domestic purposes. For 11 liters you will need 2 teaspoons. Water is not used for cooking.
Acetic and citric acid, lemon juice. These are natural food reagents that soften and oxidize liquids. Used against scale from the kettle and for caring for curls. For 2 liters of water, 1 tbsp is required. l. acetic acid or 1 tsp. lemon juice or acid.
Synthetic products in tablets or powder. They are used for washing machines and dishwashers.

Disadvantages of using reagents:

the importance of maintaining the exact dose of all ingredients;
creation of special storage rules.

You can purchase household filters or professional liquid purification devices:

Jug filters. This is the most popular method for treating tap or well water. The device is similar to a jug and has a charcoal cleaning cartridge. It has a small volume; 1-4 liters of liquid are filtered at a time. The water becomes soft with a specific taste. The cartridge should be changed every two months.
Ion exchange units. The system contains two containers with special filters for saline solution and ion exchange resins. First, the liquid penetrates into the container with resins, and then with the solution. Hardness is lost due to sodium displacing salts.
Reverse osmosis system. The most effective way. The device has a membrane filter, due to which a working pressure appears in the chamber, purifying the liquid.

For washing hair

When washing off the shampoo, a reaction of hardness salts to the anions of fatty acids found in the care product occurs. For this reason, poorly soluble cohesive components appear. Precipitation clogs the pores of the skin, makes the hair rough, and it loses its elasticity.

Also, constant use of hard water makes the structure of the strands weaker. The influence of ultraviolet radiation aggravates the situation; air causes greater oxidation and gradual destruction of the hair cuticle.

Baking soda, boiling, and salt are successfully used to soften water for washing hair and body. The following shower cleaners are also effective:

Ammonia. For a liter of liquid you will need a teaspoon of alcohol. The product softens the liquid, reduces the effect of magnesium salts, under the influence of which curls become lifeless and dull.
Boric acid. Half a teaspoon per liter of water.
Glycerol. Take 1 tbsp per liter. l. facilities. The method is effective for oily curls.
Acidic environment. To do this you need vinegar (1 tbsp per 2 l), citric acid or juice (1 tsp). Stir and wait five minutes before use.
Borax, nettle or birch infusion. To achieve noticeable results, regular rinsing is necessary.

In aquarium

The hardness in the aquarium should be between 4 and 6 degrees. In this case, fish and plants will feel great. It is also not worth lowering it below this level, otherwise the water balance will be disturbed.

First, the owner of the aquarium should measure the indicators of the aquatic environment. If it is hard, then soften it slowly, since fish are sensitive to sudden changes. The simplest method is boiling. Salts create sediment and carbonate hardness decreases. After heat treatment, it is necessary to cool the liquid, let it stand and fill, changing a third of the container.

Distillate is a source of soft water. Its hardness is only 1 dKH; very hard liquids can be mixed with this liquid. The procedure should be carried out with caution so as not to cause micronutrient deficiencies.

Some fish owners use freezing. Pour the liquid into a bowl, put it in the freezer, and remove it. Pour out excess water and wait for the ice to thaw. In this case the water will be 3 dKH. The liquid in the aquarium needs to be changed partially. Rainwater and melted snow are also used. Sediment should not be used in urban environments, otherwise the fish will experience severe discomfort.

For bathing a child

Mothers often choose the following methods for bathing and washing their babies:

Installation of a liquid purification system. This option is not cheap, but the most effective. You should contact the organization that installs such a system. The skin will noticeably improve not only on the newborn, but also on the parents.
Drinking water from bottles. If your baby's water treatments take place in a baby bath, you can use products from the store. You should carefully study your purchase so as not to purchase a low-quality product.
Cosmetics for baby care. Special bath foams are used to soften the water and prevent moisture loss from the skin. For example, the manufacturer Mustela is effective for atopic dermatitis.
Flax seeds. A decoction should be prepared. Bring 1 liter of liquid to a boil, add 4 tablespoons of the ingredient, heat for 5-7 minutes. Leave for an hour, then add to the bath before water procedures.
Soda or potato starch. The most accessible and fastest method is the use of starch. Take water, add 200-300 g of the ingredient until a white tint appears, and start bathing. The ratio when using soda is a spoon per 1 liter.
Table or sea salt. For 100 g of product, take 10 liters of liquid.
Boiling. Simple, but not the most effective way. Before water procedures, boil the liquid, wait a little to settle, then pour in water without sediment.

For watering indoor plants

Basic methods:

Advocacy. Take the liquid and leave it for a couple of days. Do not shake or apply sediment during watering. The method is effective for areas where tap water is not too hard.
Melted snow or rainwater. The method should be used if a person does not live in the city.
Boiling. The procedure leads to a change in the structure of water, so such liquid should be diluted with water after settling.
Hot water from the tap. It should be cooled and settled. This liquid is better because it is heated and softened in boiler rooms.
Acetic or citric acid. This method should not be used for hippeastrum and some other flowers, because the water becomes acidic.
Jug filter. You can use store bought or make your own. You will need thick fabric, ash or activated carbon, cotton wool. Fold them in several layers, turn off the tap. The liquid should flow in a small stream.
Hardness reducing agents. The price of one small bottle will be approximately 100 rubles.

Video: how to soften hard water at home?

Sometimes the question arises whether water softened with oxalic acid is harmful to humans. This method is usually used for indoor plants. It reduces hardness to 5.5 pH. The product does not accumulate in the ground and flowers. It improves the soil by eliminating pathogens, which has a positive effect on the development of beneficial microflora and strong roots. For 10 liters of liquid take 1/5 tsp. acid, mix and pour. No settling required. It should not be used to wash hair, as there is a risk of damaging the skin.
To check the hardness of water in a particular region, you can call the housing office and directly ask whether to take it to a laboratory for analysis or to see if pale mineral solutions are observed on objects when they interact with liquid.

Water softeners may not be very cheap or sophisticated, but the time and money spent soon pays off. If there are few harmful impurities, the consumption of powders, shampoos and gels is noticeably reduced. The risk of kidney diseases and gallbladder pathologies is also reduced. The well-being of each family member improves, skin and hair look healthier.

How to soften hard water. Methods, advice, harm and benefits, different methods, features and acceptable indicators.

We have all heard about the dangers of hard water - not only for kitchen appliances and heating equipment, but also for the human body. However, few people know that its harshness varies in “origin”, and, moreover, is not an absolute evil. Therefore, today we will look at how you can make the most effective softening of water for drinking and domestic needs in order to get the maximum benefit from it.

Features of hard water

Water becomes hard from dissolved salts - calcium and/or magnesium compounds (the latter cations are much less common). There are other elements, the presence of which can affect the final hardness values, for example, manganese, strontium, barium. But their influence is so insignificant that it is simply not taken into account.

The general hardness indicator is usually divided according to the composition of the salts:

Carbonate or temporary hardness - determines the content of Ca and Mg bicarbonates in water at a pH level exceeding 8.3 units. It can be easily dealt with by prolonged boiling - after an hour, the salts will simply disintegrate under the influence of high temperature and precipitate.
Non-carbonate hardness is called permanent because it cannot be easily eliminated. It is determined by the content of stable salts of various acids, which do not decompose and must be removed by other methods, for example, reverse osmosis.

In total, these two indicators give the overall rigidity, although calculating them separately is difficult and expensive. Usually, special reagents or indicator strips are used to determine the actual salt content.

But you can find out that there is hard water in your system without laboratory tests. During use, it causes many problems that simply cannot be ignored:

White marks on washed items;
Poor foaming of detergents, and as a result – their ineffectiveness;
Scale on the walls of the kettle (imagine what happens to the heating elements of boilers, washing machines and dishwashers);
Constantly appearing plaque on the faucet and sink.

Hard water also causes considerable harm to the human body. The feeling of dry skin after contact with such an environment is nothing more than washing away the protective lipid film from its surface. And drinking this water inside without prior softening can provoke urolithiasis.

But this does not mean that water softening should be total, even if it is used for drinking and cooking. A liquid completely devoid of salts leads to a deficiency of calcium and magnesium ions in the body, which negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The harm and benefits of hard drinking water is one of the medical paradoxes. But it is resolved simply by observing the measures.

From the point of view of doctors, drinking too hard or too soft water is unacceptable. Here you need to stick to the golden mean.

“Over-softened” water can also harm steel pipes of plumbing and heating systems - because of it, they are more susceptible to corrosive wear and last less than pipelines transporting hard media.

Traditional methods of softening

Our grandmothers also faced problems with hard water, and they at least knew about the dangers of drinking it. Therefore, there are enough simple and accessible methods of softening in the treasury of folk wisdom. Here are the most popular ones.

Boiling (and not in an electric kettle, but on the stove, since the desired effect of decomposition of hardness salts can be achieved only with prolonged heating). After this, the liquid should be allowed to settle for a day, and only then carefully drain it, without stirring up the sediment at the bottom.

Freezing is a more gentle method that will allow you to at least partially preserve the beneficial substances in the water and not spoil the taste. Place a transparent container of water in the freezer and monitor it for freezing. As soon as 75-80% of the total volume turns into ice, the vessel is taken out and the liquid residue is drained - salts are concentrated in it, which give high hardness.

Advocacy. You just need to pour water into any container and put it away from sunlight for 3-6 days. After this, you need to carefully drain the top layers without disturbing the sediment. This water is not suitable for drinking, but it is fine for household use.

Adding silicon or shungite - minerals that literally absorb hardness salts. Our great-grandfathers lined wells with silicon plaster to soften the water stored in them. We have access to a simpler method: we just need to place sterile silicon or shungite stones in a container of drinking water. Natural absorbents will absorb salts within 2-3 days, although many recommend increasing this period to a week.

Saponification is one of the ways to prepare water for washing. You will need to rub 15-20 g of laundry or toilet soap and dilute it in 0.5 liters of water until completely dissolved and foam appears. This amount is enough for a bucket of liquid, after which you need to let everything sit for at least a night - the soap will react with the salts and send them to sediment. In the morning, the solution is carefully poured into another container and boric acid (2-3 tbsp) is added to it.

Modern methods

For us, modern people, there are simpler ways to soften hard water. To do this, just buy and install softening filters with ion-exchange resins into the supply system. They are twin tanks and work on the following principle:

Hard water enters a compartment with resin, which “extracts” ions of calcium, magnesium and other alkaline earth elements from it.
The depleted liquid flows into a second reservoir with ordinary table salt, where it is enriched with sodium ions - much more beneficial for the body.
Residues containing “harmful” elements are removed along with the wastewater.

At the end we get safe and tasty softened water of normalized hardness. It can be used both for household needs and for drinking or cooking.

Different countries have their own strictness standards. Our maximum values for drinking water are set at 7 mEq/l, for technical water – no more than 9 mEq/l.

The softening effect is also obtained after running water through a reverse osmosis system. It acts completely differently: it forces liquid through a special membrane with very small pores (0.0001 microns in size) and traps impurities at the molecular level. Thus, water is freed not only from salts, but also from bacteria and other foreign elements, turning practically into a distillate.

Unfortunately, constantly eating it does more harm than good. Therefore, after purification and softening, it is advisable to pass such water through a system of mineralizers, which will enrich it with safe substances and restore optimal hardness. However, it is quite suitable for domestic needs.

Also, to protect equipment from hard water, various additives are used:

Baking soda ash;
Citric acid;
Vinegar;
Any water softener based on polyphosphates (Calgon, Eonit, Sodasan, etc.).

How to clean hard water? This issue has been discussed all over the world for the last 30-50 years; every home necessarily has some kind of water purification system for drinking. There is no longer clean water in nature, due to active human activity - modern technologies, harmful discharges from chemical plants, nuclear waste, etc. Therefore, today the situation is such that any source of water requires mandatory purification, be it an artesian well or a well near a house.

It is possible to purify hard water, the main thing is to decide which one is suitable for your water. To do this, simply take a water sample and contact the laboratory; according to the results of the analysis, select the desired purification system. Nowadays, water softening has become very popular; hard water is being combated in everyday life and at work. The presence of magnesium and calcium salts in large quantities makes it unsuitable for consumption; moreover, when it is boiled, scale forms, which quickly damages the equipment. Fighting scale is not always effective, and it is also expensive, because the anti-scale agent is not cheap. And that's not all, hard water increases the cost of detergents, due to the fact that it does not dissolve them well, so soap, powder and dishwashing detergent are spent twice as much. To see the difference between hard and soft water, you just need to install a softener and thereby “catch two birds with one stone,” that is, reduce financial costs and save your health.

Hard water can be purified using softeners by removing excess hard salts from it. There are two main methods of softening hard water - reagent and non-reagent, they are used only in production. The first method of softening water is carried out using chemicals that increase the concentration of anions in the water, creating slightly soluble salts with magnesium and calcium ions. The results of chemical reactions will safely settle in the settling tank and clarifier, after which the water will become softer. The reagent softening method is used in industry and energy.

As for the reagent-free process, this process is carried out without chemical reactions; it is based on physical phenomena. If water treatment in production involves reagent and non-reagent softeners, then they not only soften the water, but also remove all suspended matter - colloids.

How to clean hard water in everyday life in order to cook food or just take a shower, and also not to destroy household appliances ahead of time, the whiteness of the bathroom and your health, read on. Purifying water from hardness salts is sometimes not as easy as it seems at first glance. It is best to contact a specialist, and not just one, but several at once “one head is good, but two are better.”

Here are some tips on drinking water purification from experts:

You can add sodium hypochlorite, chlorine or potassium permanganate to the water, according to the dosage indicated on the package.
It is possible to purify water from hardness salts with a special one.
Sometimes aeration is used for iron removal; this is a method when air is pumped into the water. After which the oxidation process occurs and calcium and magnesium salts are reduced by 3 times.
Simply boiling water in a regular kettle also leads to a decrease in water hardness, the main thing is that the boiling process lasts up to 5 minutes. After which scale forms on the walls and bottom of the kettle.
You can freeze hardness salts from water in the freezer, but you only need to freeze and defrost 3-4 times, as a result of which the content of hardness salts will decrease and the water will become softer.
You can clean hard water quickly and effectively using reagents, but due to the fact that chemicals remain in the water, you cannot drink it.
You can purify water using an expensive installation, but not everyone can afford it, so it’s better to boil it several times - the effect will be the same.

How to clean hard water You already know, but knowing is not enough, you still need to apply knowledge in practice, that is, choose the most effective method and get clean, soft and harmless water. This troublesome event will preserve health and beauty and prolong life.