What is Soft Water? Properties, Benefits and Differences with Hard Water

There are frustrating moments that we have all experienced in our home life; the clogging of a sparkling shower head within a few months, the thick layer of lime that forms at the bottom of the kettle, or that tight feeling you feel on your skin after leaving the bathroom. While struggling with these calcification problems in my own home, I witnessed how even the plumbing pipes narrowed over time. At this point, the question of what is soft water, which comes to mind and is the solution to all these problems, is of great importance. Soft water, in the simplest terms, is water that is purified from minerals that cause lime formation, protects the plumbing of your home and improves your quality of life.

In this comprehensive guide, we will examine in detail how you can improve the water quality in your home, the working principles of water treatment systems and how you can solve the problem of lime scale formation at the root.

What is Soft Water?

The technical definition of soft water refers to waters that contain very low levels of calcium and magnesium ions that cause calcification or are completely purified. According to scientific and internationally accepted measurement standards, water with a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content between 0 and 60 mg/L per litre is classified as "soft water". As this value is exceeded, the degree of hardness of the water increases.

In fact, nature offers us water in its softest form. The rainwater that falls on the earth is completely soft and does not contain heavy minerals as it filters through the clouds. However, things change as this water falls to the ground and percolates into the underground layers. It "hardens" by incorporating minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the soil and rocks. The water that reaches our taps as mains water has different hardness ratios according to the structure of the geographical region it passes through.

What are the Differences Between Hard Water and Soft Water?

Although we think that water is just a wet liquid in daily life, the mineral concentration it contains directly affects many areas of our lives. The most fundamental difference between the two types of water is mineral concentration. While soft water instantly forms a dense foam when it meets soap, hard water, on the contrary, cuts the soap and leaves a sedimentary structure. In addition, soft water leaves a silky taste on the palate, while hard water gives a heavier and metallic feel.

What is Hard Water and How is it Formed?

Hard water is water containing high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. As rainwater travels towards underground water sources, it passes through mineral-rich layers such as limestone, chalk and gypsum. Since water is a very good solvent, it traps these minerals. When it reaches our homes, when it is heated or evaporated, these minerals precipitate and form the stubborn calcification problem we all know, that is, petrified white deposits.

How Do You Know If The Water Is Hard Or Soft At Home?

You do not always need laboratory tests to understand the quality of the water in your home; you can get a preliminary idea with a simple "soap lather test". Fill a transparent and clean plastic bottle half full of tap water. Add a few drops of pure liquid soap and shake the bottle vigorously. If the water immediately foams profusely and the water at the bottom remains clear, your water is probably soft. However, if the foam formation is weak and the water becomes cloudy and forms a sediment like "curdled milk", you are most likely using hard water.

The table below summarises the main differences between the two types of water:

What are the Incredible Benefits of Soft Water?

Switching to soft water not only protects your teapot from limescale, but also leads to noticeable improvements in many areas of your life, from aesthetics to health, budget to environmental sustainability.

Positive Effect on Skin and Hair Health

When you shower with hard water, the minerals in the water react with soap to form an invisible film on your skin. This layer clogs the pores and causes the skin to lose its natural moisture. Dermatologists often advise their patients with eczema / dry skin to soften their water. When you wash with soft water, this deposit does not form; your skin maintains its natural moisture balance, irritation is prevented and your hair becomes much softer, shinier and easier to comb after washing.

Extending the Life of Home Appliances and Installations

Calcareous water is the worst enemy of all kinds of white goods and installations that come into contact with water. According to the opinion of an installation expert, even a thin layer of lime accumulated in the boiler heat exchangers prevents heat transfer to an incredible extent. According to statistics, the economic life of a boiler using softened water increases from an average of 12-15 years to 18-22 years and annual maintenance failure costs are reduced by 40-60%. In addition, the life of washing machines and dishwashers working with hard water usually decreases from 10 years to 7 years. When these systems are supported by domestic water treatment and softening products, serious device protection is provided.

Energy and Detergent Saving

The economic dimension of the work is much larger than it is thought. In water heating systems (combi boiler, water heater, etc.), only 1 mm of lime layer increases energy consumption by 6%, while 3 mm of accumulation increases energy consumption by 15% and 8 mm of accumulation increases heating costs by 40%. In addition, soft water reacts instantly with soap and detergent due to its low surface tension. Compared to hard water, detergent consumption in washing machines and dishwashers can be saved by 30 to 50 per cent. This is an environmental sustainability move that directly protects nature by reducing the amount of chemical waste entering the groundwater. It should not be forgotten that a water softener is not an expense, it amortises its own cost (ROI - Return on Investment) within an average of 3 to 5 years with the savings it provides.

Is Soft Water Drinkable?

This question is one of the most frequently asked by consumers. Yes, soft water is drinkable and safe for general public health. However, there is a scientific detail here that should be stated transparently. Household ion exchangers remove calcium and magnesium from the water, leaving some sodium ions in the water in return. The higher the hardness of the water, the greater the amount of sodium added to the water. For healthy individuals, this amount of sodium is less than the sodium in a slice of bread and is completely harmless. However, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, patients with severe high blood pressure who are on a strict sodium diet are advised to consult their doctor before consuming this water as drinking water. In terms of flavour, soft water is particularly preferred by baristas as it brings out the flavour much better when brewing coffee and tea.

What should be the ideal soft water values?

Various units are used to determine water quality. In our country and in Europe, the French degree of hardness (°f) is generally used, while international standards are based on the mg / L (ppm) unit. The pH value of a healthy drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. Soft waters may generally feel slightly more basic than tap water.

Table of Water Hardness Degrees:

Where is Soft Water Used?

Soft water plays a critical role not only in homes but also in all areas of life. While it is used as standard in bathrooms, washing machines and dishwashers for domestic use, it is also indispensable in the professional field. Hotels and hospitals use centralised water softening systems to wash linen much more gently and reduce cleaning material costs. In industrial plants, especially in huge steam boilers, lime formation can lead to explosion risk and huge energy losses, so zero lime water is preferred in production lines.

How to Obtain Soft Water?

Today, advanced technologies are used to soften the hard water flowing from your tap. Although some softening can be achieved naturally by boiling water (removing temporary hardness), professional systems are needed for permanent solutions on a household and industrial scale. It is important to know the working principles of different technologies to make a suitable product selection.

Ion Exchange (Water Softening) Systems

The most common, longest-lasting and efficient method is the ion exchange device connected to the inlet of the central installation. At the heart of this system is a resin tank filled with a special material resembling small plastic beads. The resin beads are negatively charged and their surface is covered with sodium ions. When hard water enters the tank, the positively charged calcium and magnesium ions in the water are attracted to the resin like a powerful magnet. The resin traps these hard minerals and gives sodium to the water in return. This process is called ion exchange. When the resin reaches saturation, it regenerates itself by washing with brine (regeneration). The average water softener consumes only 70 kWh of electricity per year, which means a negligible cost on your electricity bill.

Reverse Osmosis Method

Most of the household water purifiers we see under the kitchen countertops work with reverse osmosis technology. In this method, water is passed through a pressure-resistant membrane filter with pores so small that only molecules can pass through. During this high-pressure passage, calcium, magnesium, heavy metals, viruses and bacteria are all trapped in the filter and sent to the waste water line. The resulting water is almost pure, completely soft and of first-class quality with excellent drinking water values.

Choose the Right Water Softener System for Your Needs

You now know much better the hidden damage that hard water causes to your home, skin and budget and the comfort of soft water. It is entirely in your hands to extend the life of your washing machine, reduce the natural gas bills of your boiler and have a cottony skin after bathing. To examine in detail the most suitable systems for the square metre of your home, your water consumption volume and your budget; Rainwater water purifier to get healthy water immediately you can discover our device models on our website immediately. Do not wait any longer to step into that smooth water experience that will improve your quality of life!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to obtain soft water?

Soft water is mainly obtained by three methods. The most common and effective method is water softening systems using ion exchange resin connected to centralised installations. In these systems, calcium and magnesium are retained in the resin and sodium is given to the water. The second method, Reverse Osmosis, purifies water from minerals by passing it through very thin membranes under pressure. Although not very practical, water with temporary hardness can be partially softened by boiling it at home.

What are the differences between hard water and soft water?

The main difference between the two waters is the mineral concentration. Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium, does not lather with soap, is dry on the skin and leaves limescale deposits on appliances. Soft water, on the other hand, is free of these minerals; it feels silky on the skin, lathers profusely even with very little detergent and reduces limescale build-up in household appliances to zero.

What does soft water mean?

Soft water is water that is free of calcium and magnesium minerals, which are the main actors of lime formation, is easy to drink and leaves a smooth feeling when it comes into contact with your skin. On a scientific scale, any water with less than 60 milligrams of calcium carbonate per litre is considered "soft".

Can you drink soft water?

Yes, it is drinkable and extremely safe in terms of general health standards. When used in food and beverages, it reflects the flavour of the food much better. However, since resinous systems leave sodium in the water when removing lime, it is recommended that patients with severe high blood pressure whose sodium consumption is restricted should be careful and consult their doctor. Since we get nutritional minerals largely from the foods we eat, de-mineralisation of water does not cause mineral deficiency in the human body.