FAQs
What is hard water?
Hard water is water that contains high amounts of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
How do you measure hardness?
Hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg). It takes 17.1ppm to equal 1gpg.
| Grains per Gallon | Parts per Million | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| less than 1.0 | less than 17.1 | soft |
| 1.0 – 3.5 | 17.1 – 60 | slightly hard |
| 3.5 – 7.0 | 60 – 120 | moderately |
| 7.0 – 10.5 | 120 – 180 | hard |
| over 10.5 | over 180 | very hard |
How much sodium does Ion Exchange add to water?
For every grain of hardness in your water 7.5 mg of Sodium will be “added” to each quart of water by the ion-exchange method. For example if the water is 10gpg hard, you will add 75.0mg of Sodium per quart of water softened by ion-exchange. To put this in perspective one 8oz glass of milk contains 120mg of Sodium; one slice of white bread contains 114mg of Sodium. There is more Sodium in an 8 ounce glass of milk than in one quart of water softened by ion-exchange.
What is the average water usage per person?
The average water usage is 87 gallons per person, per day.
How much salt is used in the regeneration process?
Approximately .9 pounds of salt, depending on the water usage.