Water Softeners

You've already taken the first step to cleaner, softer water.

Located in Salt Lake, Mount Olympus EcoWater Systems offer a complete line of water softeners, filters, and drinking water systems for commercial and residential applications. No matter what type of water problem you're having our in-house certified water specialists can troubleshoot and prescribe just the right solution to correct your water problem or simply improve the quality of your drinking water.

At EcoWater Systems, we've been solving water problems with innovative products and solutions since 1925. Today, we're the world's largest manufacturer of residential water treatment systems. You can count on EcoWater water softeners and drinking water systems to improve the quality of your water. Contact us today for more information on the benefits of an EcoWater Systems water treatment system and drinking water system.

Myths:

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 85 percent of the United States geography has hard water. While many consumers use a water softener so they can enjoy the benefits of soft water, there is some confusion about whether softened water is safe to drink.

Some consumers are concerned that drinking softened water will increase the level of sodium in their diet. Despite the myth, softening your water will not result in salty-tasting water.

The amount of sodium added to water from the water softening process depends on the hardness of the water supply. When very hard water (greater than 10 grains of hardness per gallon) is softened, only 20 to 40 mg of sodium is added to every 8 ounces of water. For comparison, an 8-ounce glass of low-fat milk contains about 120 mg of sodium, a 12-ounce can of diet soda contains from 20 to 70 mg, and an 8-ounce glass of orange juice contains about 25 mg.

The majority of the sodium in consumers' diets -- more than 90 percent -- comes from sources such as processed foods and table salt. The recommended daily allowance for sodium consumption is 2,400 mg. Drinking two quarts of softened water would only add approximately 240 mg of sodium to your diet. Individuals concerned about sodium in their diet should consult their physician about effective means of reducing overall sodium consumption.

An Easy Solution to Hard Water Problems

Hard water forms when naturally occurring minerals enter water sources. Over time these minerals are absorbed by groundwater. The two most common types of minerals found in hard water are calcium and magnesium compounds. These minerals' presence can make cleaning more difficult and can reduce the lifespan of household appliances.

Luckily, there's a simple, safe solution to hard water. Installing a water softener is quick, easy and greatly reduces the natural hard minerals found in water, making it easier to get clothes clean, leaving skin less dry and irritated, and making showering more pleasant.

During the water softening process, water softening salt charges thousands of tiny resin beads inside the water softener with sodium ions. As hard water moves over the resin beads, the calcium and magnesium minerals are attracted to the beads and replaced with sodium ions, creating soft water. Over time, the resin beads will become full of minerals and need to be recharged. This process is known as the water softener's regeneration cycle. The frequency of regeneration varies depending on the water usage of each home and the source water's hardness.

Soft Water Can Save You Hard Cash

The term "hard water" was originally coined to refer to water that was difficult or hard to work with. Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo or detergent than soft water, so your soap products don't stretch nearly as far. The effects of hard water are felt most often in daily household activities such as cleaning. The minerals present in hard water inhibit soap's lathering and cleaning capabilities.

According to New Mexico State University's Water Heater-Energy Savings Study, the lifespan of appliances such as water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers can be reduced by as much as 30 percent when hard water is used in the home. Also, when hard water is heated, the minerals in the water can precipitate out and form scales in the bottom of the water heater. These scales may build up and result in increased water heating costs.

Another factor to consider is the high costs associated with repairing major appliances. How much would you be willing to pay to repair a 5-year-old washing machine? Due to the high cost of repairs, replacement is often the best option once hard water has wreaked havoc on an appliance. By using soft water you can add more than three years to the longevity of most of your appliances -- and save yourself the expense of replacing them much sooner than you expected.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: A SOLUTION

There are ways to combat the sodium in soft water, which will allow households to enjoy better tasting water, as well as have the best available water for cleaning needs. They are reverse osmosis, distillation and deionization.

What type is your water? The Water Quality Association of the United States defines hard water as having dissolved mineral hardness of 1 GPG (grain per gallon) or more. Here is a helpful table to show the hardness of water:

Soft Water- less than 1 gpg
Slightly Hard- 1-3.5 gpg
Moderately Hard- 3.5-7 gpg
Very Hard- 7-10 gpg
Extremely Hard- over 10 gpg

Reverse Osmosis:

How an RO Drinking Water System Provides High Quality Water For Worry-Free Drinking or Cooking.

Household water is directed through a pre-filter for filtration to remove sediment, chlorine taste and order, and particulate matter.
The water is then forced, by pressure, through a semi-permeable membrane where a high percentage of the dissolved solids, etc. are rejected and flushed to the drain.
Filtered water is reserved in the storage tank until needed.

ERO R375 Reverse Osmosis

The EcoWater Systems ERO R375 is a reverse osmosis filter that delivers great-tasting water, free of contaminants like chlorine, sediment nitrates, lead, cysts and other pollutants including detergent.

Water is filtered through various polypropylene/carbon prefilters and carbon block filters to remove sediment, particulate matter and chlorine. Next, the RO (reverse osmosis) thin film composite membrane removes at least 95 percent of the total dissolved solids. Before reaching the faucet, an activated carbon filter polishes the water and removes tastes and odors.

The ERO-R375 automatically turns on and off to keep the storage tank full. This unit is industry rated at 50 gallons per day. This is the perfect drinking water system to add to any of our water treatment systems.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is everyone so concerned about the quality of water these days, is this a temporary problem?

Fresh water today may not meet today's drinking water quality standards for contaminants like arsenic, nitrates, fluorides and pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and giardia.

History has shown that as contaminants increase in water supplies, quality standards have been lowered due to the inability to combat the increased problem. The signs that our tap water, both municipal and well water, is growing more contaminated are everywhere:

What Makes Water Hard - And How Does It Become Soft?

As water flows through layers of rock underground, it picks up loose particles and dissolves minerals from its surroundings. Because of this characteristic, and the kind of rock common in many aquifers, calcium and magnesium minerals are frequently found in household water. Water with substantial amounts of calcium and magnesium is referred to as "hard water." This is not true of Mt. O Spring Water which has fewer than 50 ppm total disvalued solids.

Hard water minerals reduce water's ability to function effectively in our homes. For instance, bath soap combines with the minerals and forms a pasty scum that accumulates on bathtubs and sinks. Homeowners must use more soap and detergent in washing, so expense for these products increases.

These minerals also combine with soap in the laundry, and the residue doesn't rinse well from fabric, leaving clothes dull. Hard water spots appear on everything that it is washed in and around the home from dishes and silverware to the family car. Hard water not only affects household cleaning, but the minerals also can build up on the inside of pipes in the plumbing system; and in water heaters, the minerals settle on the heating element, the walls of the tank, in the hot water pipes, and in faucets where they produce a scale (similar to the original rock) that reduces the efficiency and life of the hot water system

What about the existing scale in my water system?

Water softeners prevent scaling once soft water starts flowing through your system, the corrosion build-up will begin to reverse.

Will softened water help skin conditions like eczema?

Many eczema sufferers do find that softened water is beneficial. Due to the complexity of eczema it is impossible to quantify why soft water helps but several reports suggest the following:

Water softeners eliminate soap curd and result in a cleaner lather that is kind to skin, thus reducing dryness and itching
When washing clothes in softened water, the amount of soap powder can be greatly reduced. Also, pure soap products can be used in preference to detergents.

How much money can I save with softened water?

The savings provided by a water softener will produce a return on investment within two to four years, but there are also many hidden benefits:

Removal of existing scale from your hot water tank and associated pipe work - save on repairs and maintenance.
Sinks, taps, toilets, shower screens and bathrooms will remain scale free - no more ugly white stains to wash off.
Shower heads will never have to be de-scaled again.
Soft water is a natural conditioner for fabrics, hair and skin.
Up to 75% reduction of soaps and detergents - use only one tablespoon of washing powder for your washing machine.
Crystal clear bath water and lovely rich lather with very little soap required.
Soft water is kinder to heating systems, washing machines and dishwashers making them last years longer.
No more messy scum - save on cleaning times.

What does water softener installation involve?

Our standard installation is quick and unobtrusive. Once installed, you can forget about it except for adding salt as required. In most cases our standard domestic installation method is suitable for most households. If there are any difficulties we can advise you about this when we carry out the survey. But rest assured ... we usually have a way to get round any problems.

I already have a whole-house water softening / conditioning system, but I am unhappy with the service my dealer provides, can you help me?

At Ecowater we service any kind of water softening and filtration equipment. We also carry a wide variety of filters and replacement parts. We pride ourselves in our customer service and if we provide service to you and your family, we know that you will be very happy with the results. Simply give our service team a call and we can be at your home tomorrow!