Water Conditioning - EcoWater 3500 Series Owner's Manual

ECOWATER
S Y S T E M S

WATER CONDITIONING

Water conditioning is the treatment of several conditions
in household water. The conditions treated by the unit
you have purchased are: (1) Hardness, (2) Iron, (3)
Sediments, (4) Barium and (5) Radium 226 and 228.
These are described below:
1. HARDNESS is a term to describe the presence of
calcium and magnesium minerals in water. A chemical
analysis accurately measures the amount of minerals in
grain weight. For example, one gallon of water with 5
grains per gallon (gpg) hardness has dissolved minerals
that, if solidified, about equals the size of one ordinary
aspirin tablet. One gallon of water, 25 gpg hard, has a
mineral content equal in size to 5 aspirin tablets. Water
hardness varies greatly across the country. It generally
contains from 3 to 100 gpg.
Hard water affects living in general. Hardness minerals
combine with soap to make a soap curd. The curd
greatly reduces the cleaning action of soap.
Precipitated hardness minerals form a crust on cooking
utensils, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Even the
tastes of foods are affected. A water softener removes
the hardness minerals to eliminate these problems, and
others.
IMPORTANT: Water softeners using sodium chloride
(NaCl) salt for regeneration add sodium to the water.
Persons on sodium restricted diets should consider the
added sodium as part of their overall intake. Water sof-
teners using potassium chloride (KCl) salt for regenera-
tion add potassium to the water. Persons on potassium
restricted diets should consider the added potassium as
part of their overall intake.
2. IRON in water is measured in parts per million (ppm).
The total* ppm of iron, and type or types*, is determined
by chemical analysis. Three different types of iron in
water are: (a) Ferrous (clear water), (b) Ferric (red
water), and (c) Bacterial and organically bound iron.
*Water may contain one or more of the three types of
iron and any combination of these. Total iron is the sum
of the contents.
a. Ferrous (clear water) iron is soluble and dissolves in
water. It is usually detected by taking a sample of water
in a clear bottle or glass. Immediately after taking, the
sample is clear. As the water sample stands, it gradu-
ally clouds and turns slightly yellow or brown as air oxi-
dizes the iron. This usually occurs in 15 to 30 minutes.
An EcoWater Systems conditioner will remove moder-
ate amounts of this type of iron (see specifications).
b. Ferric (red water), and c. Bacterial and organically
bound irons are insoluble. This iron is visible immedi-
ately when drawn from a faucet because it has oxidized
before reaching the home. It appears as small cloudy
yellow, orange, or reddish suspended particles. After
the water stands for a period of time, the particles settle
to the bottom of the container. Generally these irons are
removed from water by filtration. Chlorination is also
recommended for bacterial iron. An EcoWater Systems
conditioner will remove minimal quantities (see specifi-
cations) of ferric iron.
3. SEDIMENT is fine, foreign material particles sus-
pended in water. This material is most often clay or silt.
Extreme amounts of sediment may give the water a
cloudy appearance. A sediment filter normally corrects
this condition.
4. BARIUM is a naturally occurring metal that makes its
way into water through drilling wastes, smelting copper,
and producing motor vehicle parts. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to determine
chemicals that cause health effects and at what levels .
EPA created a list of harmful chemicals and their maxi-
mum contaminant levels (MCL), to set limits for public
water supplies to maintain. Barium's MCL is 2 parts per
million (PPM). The level of barium in water can be
determined through chemical analysis.
5. RADIUM is a naturally occurring radioactive metal
that can be found in most drinking water at low levels.
Higher levels occur when ground water passes through
bedrock containing high concentrations of radium.
Radium 226 and 228 are also regulated by EPA with an
MCL of 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/l). A chemical analy-
sis is needed to measure the concentration of Radium
226 and 228.
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Water Conditioning