| Can I use soft water on houseplants?
It's not a good idea to use soft water for house plants. Here's why: water that has been softened contains sodium salts, which are harmful to many plants.
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| Selecting a treatment company
Before selecting a water conditioning company, it's probably a good idea to learn about the different methods of softening your household water. Once you've decided on the method you prefer, you can contact the companies who offer those products.
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| Water and your health
Water is essential to our health: the human body cannot survive without it for more than a few days. On the other hand, contaminated water poses its own health hazards.
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| What are hardness minerals?
Hardness minerals are the substances, that when present in great enough concentration, cause water to be classified as 'hard.' calcium, manganese (man guh NEEZ) and magnesium (mag NEE zee um) are the most common hardness minerals.
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| What is hard water?
Hard water is water that contains large amounts of dissolved minerals like calcium, manganese (man guh NEEZ) and magnesium (mag NEE zee um). Hardness minerals are measured in 'grains per gallon,' abbreviated G-P-G, or 'parts per million,' abbreviated P-P-M.
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| What is soft water?
Soft water contains very low amounts of 'hardness minerals' like calcium, manganese (man guh NEEZ), and magnesium (mag NEE zee um). Such water may occur naturally, or it may be created, through the use of a water softener.
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| What should I look for in a water conditioner?
The most popular water conditioner for the home is the ion exchange water softener. When shopping for such a device, make sure it has enough of the plastic beads called 'resin' to treat the amount of water you will use.
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| When should I test my water?
If your water develops an odd color, a bad odor, or people in your family suffer repeated, unexplained illnesses, it's wise to test your water immediately.
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| Where does my water come from?
Though all water is merely rain that fell to earth, sources are usually divided into two categories: surface water, and ground water. Surface water is that which remained above ground.
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| Will softened water harm tropical fish?
If you have an aquarium, you may wonder about using softened water in the tank: for most tropical fish, soft water is fine. However, you'll want to make the transition gradually: start by exchanging about one-fourth of the tank water for soft water.
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| Will softened water hurt my septic tank?
Water softeners and septic tanks have co-existed in the same households for over 30 years now, with no obvious problems. Normally, the only water-softening materials that enter the septic tank are calcium, magnesium, and sodium chloride, or salt.
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