calcium and magnesium; clogging, burning out of boilers, laundry and food preparation; ion exchanger and zeolite process

acidity, entrained oxygen and carbon dioxide (low ph); closing of iron pipe rust, destroy brass pipe; raising the alkaline content

contamination by organic matter or sewage; disease; chlorination by sodium hypochlorite or chlorine gas

iron and manganese; discoloration of fixtures and laundry; precipitation by filtration through manganese zeolite oxidizing filter

organic matter; unpleasantness; filtration through activated carbon purifier filtration

carbon dioxide, containing decaying vegetation; corrosion, rusting, and clogging of steep pipes; through a bed of crushed marble or limestone, sodium silicate

silt or suspended matters picked up in a surface; discoloration and bad taste; filtration

measure of total calcium, magnesium, iron, and other metallic elements that contribute to the “hard” feel of water

presence of bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium

presence of noncarbonic salts (sulfates, chlorides, and nitrates)

sum of the calcium and magnesium concentrations; combination of temporary (carbonate hardness) and permanent (non-carbonate hardness)

build up of minerals and rust from inner linings of pipes; caused by minerals like calcium carbonate and magnesium

0-75mg/L; 0 to 4

76-150mg/L; 4 to 8.5

151-300mg/L; 8.5 to 17

over 300mg/L; 17+

standard ion exchange water softener; hard water treatment; the hardness (calcium and magnesium) is replaced with sodium

soft

slightly hard

moderately hard

hard

very hard

other method for hard water treatment