The hardness of a water is a measure of its calcium and magnesium ion content.
It is distinguished in temporary hardness and permanent hardness.
The first, also called carbonate hardness, represents the hardness associated with the presence of the bicarbonate ion and it disappears with boiling.
The permanent hardness, on the contrary, is represented by the residual hardness. It is due to calcium and magnesium cations associated with the presence of anions that do not decompose by boiling water, ie the SO4-, Cl-, No3- anions.

According to the French scale, hardness is expressed as grams of CaCO3 corresponding to the amount of calcium and magnesium ions in 100 liters of water.
Thus, a water with 27 degrees of hardness will contain a quantity of soluble calcium and magnesium salts equivalent to 27 grams of calcium carbonate in 100 liters.

According to an old criterion adopted by the boiler manufacturers, water can be classified as follows:

• Very soft with hardness from 0 to 7 ° F
• Soft with hardness from 7 to 15 ° F
• Moderately hard with hardness from 15 to 22 ° F
• Hard with hardness from 22 to 35 ° F
• Very hard with hardness from 35 upwards

Legislation for water intended for human consumption does not provide for a hardness limit, merely recommending that the values should be in the range of 15 to 50 ° F.
By reducing the hardness of the water by means of a water softener, the age-old problem of limescale, that often causes irreversible damage to the appliances’ systems, is eliminated.
But the hardness of the water is not only responsible for encrustations; it has a negative impact in many other uses of water, with costly direct and indirect consequences.

BENEFITS OF SOFT WATER

• Deep cleansing of the pores of the skin, that remains soft
• Better cleaning of scalp and hair, that remain soft and shiny
• Linen remains soft, with bright colors, without the use of fabric softeners
• Sparkling glasses, crockery and cutlery and without opaque spots
• Stains and sanitary fittings without stains
• Greater flavor for tea and coffee, in cooking foods
• Improved yield and ease in all cleaning operations

SAVINGS FROM SOFT WATER

• Lower consumption of detergents and personal hygiene products (50 to 75% less)
• Longer life of fabrics, not worn out by calcareous deposits between the fibres
• Saving of fabric softeners and brighteners
• Lower maintenance costs for boilers, faucets, mixers, pipes and coils for hot water production
• Lower consumption of gas or electricity for the production of domestic hot water
• Lower heating costs and plant maintenance (2mm of scale causes higher consumption by 25-28%)
• Greater life of household appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, etc.)

Find out more about home water technologies.
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