Comparison - Water Softeners vs. ScaleBlaster
Until now, the most dependable way to solve your hard water problems was with either
a salt-based water softener or by using some good old-fashioned elbows and chemicals.
Water Softener Facts
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All water softeners use the same operating principle: They exchange calcium and
magnesium ions with twice as much sodium ions. The process is called ion exchange
and can be labeled as “ancient” or outdated technology. They are very expensive
to purchase and maintain; require a lot of salt to operate. They also require a
lot of extra water to regenerate. Water softeners pollute our precious environment
and can be harmful to people on salt restricted diets.
Water resources are sources of water that are useful to humans. We require fresh
water, but only 2.5% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and over 2/3 of that is frozen
in glaciers and ice caps. The use of water softeners contributes to a decrease in
the available fresh water on our planet.
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A costly solution for mid-sized commercial buildings
- Water Softeners cost between $10,000 and $20,000
installed.
- After approximately 5 years they will need major repairs and eventual replacement.
A $2,000–$4,000 yearly depreciation is standard
for a commercial grade water softener.
- Water Softeners will require about $3,000
a year in salt deliveries, leaving a greasy feeling that causes people to use an
additional 8-18% of water to rinse off.
- Water Softeners require an additional 240,000 gallons
of water a year just to regenerate. This will equate to an increase in your
water and sewer bill by $2,000 a year or more.
- Water Softeners, along with the corrosive bags of salt they require, consume a lot
of space that could be better utilized. Has your supplier ever short-changed you
on the number of bags you receive?
- Water softeners will make your water much more “aggressive”, causing leaks and damage
to your piping system and other equipment. This cost usually runs
tens of thousands of dollars.
Water Softener Bans
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There are 34 states that have instituted restrictions at state, city or county levels
regarding the discharge of regenerative water softeners into the sanitary sewer
systems. These restrictions have been put in place to protect either local water
quality of municipal water sources or to protect agricultural and aquatic life.
This discharge raises the total dissolved solid levels that in many cases find their
way back into the local water supplies.
Some of these states include California, Texas, Montana, New Mexico, Michigan, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and New Jersey. Cities like Santa Barbara and Fillmore, California
have banned water softening discharges totally.
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