WATER SOFTENING SOLUTIONS

Around 60% of the UK is affected by varying degrees of hard water which can lead to several problems for the property and the people who use it such as extensive limescale build-up, issues with plumbing and appliances, increased energy bills and even cause your hair and skin to suffer.

At Lubron, we provide a wide range of environmentally friendly and innovative water-softening systems that work to treat hard water and prevent issues from occurring. Our dedicated team of experts have years of experience working with customers across various industries and sectors, providing effective water softeners for everything from residential, industrial, agriculture and commercial premises to those in healthcare, hospitality, food and beverages, data control and more.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that has a high level of dissolved minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium and affects water supplies used for cooking, drinking, heating and washing. Some of the areas most impacted by hard water can be seen in all aspects of daily life within homes, hotels, offices, factories and warehouses etc. For example;

• In steam and hot water boilers
• In cooling towers and humidification systems
• Water heaters, dishwashers and glass washers
• Coffee and espresso machines
• In mixer taps, faucets, pumps, thermostatic valves etc.
• Showerheads, bathroom surfaces, basins, toilets

Hard water is safe to drink and some of the minerals can contribute towards your daily recommended allowance of certain vitamins, however, it can also cause many problems, including;

• Limescale build up in everything from pipes, boilers and appliances to taps, toilets, shower screens and shower heads, reducing efficiency, lifespan and effecting the way they look and function.
• Dull and dry hair and skin, eczema, irritation.
• Chalky film on plates and glasses after washing.
• Laundry rough to the touch and colours that fade quicker.

These day-to-day problems caused by hard water can have a real impact, not to mention the financial implications of having to constantly repair or replace appliances and pipes, clean and remove tough limescale, treat dry skin and pay the increased energy bills.

The benefits of water softening treatment

Water softening is the process of extracting calcium Ca2+ and magnesium Mg2+ ions that produce hardness in water. Water softener systems can transform even extremely hard water into purer, silky soft, luxury water that provides a wide range of benefits.

Energy Saving

In an age where fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are so crucial, it is shocking to discover that buildings may be burning 30 or 40% excess energy, simply due to an accumulation of lime scale in their water systems. Rough scale deposits in pipework increase the frictional losses of water passing through the system, and the narrowing of waterways forces booster sets to work harder.

These accumulative costs may result in complete failure of a system, causing considerable inconvenience to the operator. Losses experienced by hotels and care homes, for example, can be very damaging both to finances and reputation. Building Regulations Part L states that provision should be made to treat water feeding water heaters and hot water circulation systems, in areas where the total hardness exceeds 200ppm.

A water softening system can help to prevent the damaging effects of hard water, reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, saving you money whilst also being more environmentally friendly.

Controlling Legionella

To add to the list of issues caused by lime scale in buildings, biological problems can also arise if scale is allowed to deposit in waterways. Limescale provides a habitat in which bacteria can proliferate, particularly in lower velocity areas such as calorifiers or thermostatic mixing valves. For this reason, the Health and Safety Executive published in their guidance document, HSG274 P2: The control of Legionella Bacteria in Hot and Cold-Water Systems, that softening of water should be considered to avoid the formation of scale in hard water areas.

Health and Wellbeing

A lot of people don’t realise the negative impact that hard water can have on health, mainly the skin and hair, leading to dryness, dullness, sensitivity and even eczema.

A water softener system can help to turn baths and showers into a much more pleasant experience and has been proven to deliver benefits for the skin and hair. The softer water leaves skin much softer and the hair more supple and shiny, eliminating the need for excessive moisturisers, creams or special shampoos and conditioners.

Industrial Water Softening

Ion Exchange Softening

The most effective method of industrial water softening solutions (removing the hardness salts Calcium and Magnesium) is by the process of ion exchange – ions are electrically charged species of the minerals dissolved in water. The water is passed through a synthetic resin, which absorbs the Calcium and Magnesium ions by exchanging them for sodium ions. When the resin is exhausted, it needs to be regenerated. The resin is recharged with sodium ions by rinsing with a brine solution (sodium chloride). The hardness ions previously removed are flushed to drain during the regeneration process.

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