How Much Does It Cost to Operate a Water Softener?

My favorite response to this question is "A water softener doesn't cost - it saves"

A typical family of 4 will save $40 to $70 per month just by installing a water softener. 

But I know that is never the answer that you are looking for. If you haven't had a water softener before, it is a natural question, and I'm going to try to give you a really good idea of what you can expect to spend to operate a water softener. As usual, I'm going to try to avoid as much technical detail as I can, so if you see any technical details that aren't quite right, you probably know how to adjust what I'm saying or already will know how to figure out the costs yourself.

There are 4 areas that could be considered operating costs - electricity, water, sewer and salt (or potassium for some users). Because of the nature of the costs, I will deal with electricity first, then water, sewer and salt together, then touch on potassium chloride.

Before I start, I need to let you know how I came up with the numbers. I used actual water softeners installed in my home. We had 4 - 5 people living in the home, water hardness averaged 13 grains per gallon. This is a pretty common number in our area, and if your hardness varies. you can make adjustment from there. Other factors I'm using are $0.20 per pound of salt, water at $1.12 per cubic meter, and sewer at $0.703 per cubic meter.

Electricity

While there is one brand that uses water flow past gears to operate instead of electricity, Almost all water softeners use electricity to run. Primarily to operate timers and drive motors. The amount used will be very small - not much more than a clock.

Normal operation of an electronic water softener will have the clock running continuously and the power draw is so small I consider it negligible. When the motor is moving the valve during recharge, it is still a small demand and at electrical rates of 8.9 cents per kwh a typical annual electrical cost will be under $1.00.

Salt, Water and Sewer
The cost of these items will vary depending on water hardness, how much water you use and the water softener control.

The first control factor is if the unit is demand or timeclock driven. A timeclock softener will recharge on a fixed schedule. This is the most wasteful way for a softener to work. Our softener had to recharge every 3 days, using 60 pounds of salt per month. These softeners are usually not very water efficient either - using over 50 gallons per recharge. So that means a total monthly operating cost of under $15.

Then we tried a demand softener. These softeners track the water that you use and recharge once a preset volume of water has been treated.They are advertised to use about 1/2 of the salt and water. Our experience was an actual savings of 20%. So this unit cost under $12 per month to run.

Then we used a Culligan Aqua-Sensor. These units rely on electronics to measure the condition of the unit to determine when they need to recharge. It makes a lot of sense since the water hardness varies throughout the year to measure the bed, and as long as the unit functions properly, it will save salt and water. Unfortunately, we had to set the softener for a higher salt dosage for it to work, but we did see a 40% savings. This unit cost us less than $9 per month.

Finally we tried and Ecowater Refiner. This is a demand water softener that tracks water use int he home but includes other factors to reduce costs:

• Upflow regeneration is far more efficient in salt and water use and makes softer water
• Proportional brining recharges only the portion of the capacity used
• A sophisticated algorithm better predicts when recharge is needed
• Average water usage per recharge is only 32 gallons 

Added all up, we saw a salt savings of 66% and a water/sewer savings of 80%. Total operating cost - less than $5 

Potassium Chloride
This can be used as a salt replacement for recharging your water softener. If you are drinking soft water it is a good choice, and the plumbing code recommends it for softeners draining into septic systems.

It is over 3 times the price of salt and your conditioner will use more than salt.

So as i said at the start, a water softener doesn't cost - it saves! 

Call us to see how:

At Holmes Ecowater, we make your home's water - Better! 

What is Reverse Osmosis?

How can you turn Sea Water into Drinking Water?

What is the most practical way to demineralize water?

What is one of the best Multi-Barrier water treatment systems for your home drinking water?

How can you turn tap water into bottled water quality?

Reverse Osmosis

So - What is Reverse Osmosis?
 
If you have come across one of the various technical explanations available (Here's a pretty good one) , most people find the explanations too scientific and frankly don't read them.

I'd like to simplify what a reverse osmosis system (I'm going to shorten it to  RO for the rest of this article) does, and while it may not be 100% technically accurate, I'm hoping it will give you a clearer idea. 

When it comes to home systems, the RO unit will be part of a complete water treatment system.

The first stage is prefiltration that will remove dirt, particles, sediment etc. that is 15 times finer than a human hair. Prefiltration also removes chlorine and some organic substances. As well as improving your water, this helps to protect the RO membrane.

The next step is the RO membrane. It separates the water into 2 streams - good high quality drinking water in 1 stream and everything else in the other. This waste water is directed down the drain (or back into your plumbing system if you have a zero waste option). The good water is stored in a holding tank.

Before the water reaches the tap, it passes through a polishing filter. Then to your glass - great tasting, high quality drinking water.


Check out how 
"At Holmes Ecowater, We Make Your Home's Water - Better!"
 

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Is Hard Water Making You Ill?

We've always considered hard water to be an aesthetic concern. You know: hard to clean bathtub ring and film on shower tiles, dry itchy skin after bathing, dramatically higher cleaning costs, increased heating and maintenance costs due to scale build up.

But now, evidence is making us reconsider what that scale can actually do. 

Legionnaires Disease is far more common that we think.

The CDC estimates that between 8,000 and 18,000 cases are hospitalized with many cases going unreported. CDC Fact Sheet.

Any place moisture can build up may cause bacteria, such as legionella, to grow. The bacteria can grow in hot tubs, air conditioning systems (especially large commercial units), hot water tanks, plumbing systems and cooling towers. Limescale deposits in the water system allow water to pool when the fixtures aren’t in use. This pooling allows bacteria to grow and potentially infect those using or exposed to the system.

“By far the greatest risk lies within the humble hot and cold water systems, which deliver the disease through taps and shower heads. Legionella bacteria thrive in temperatures between 20-45 degrees Celsius; and if water is allowed to sit at these temperatures the bacterium can multiply into large numbers which can cause Legionnaires’ disease,” according to Simon French, a legionella expert and HVCA Service and Facilities Group member.

In another study, scientists tested shower heads. Tests revealed nearly a third of devices harbour significant levels of a bug that causes lung disease.

Levels of Mycobacterium avium were 100 times higher than those found in typical household water supplies. 

M. avium forms a biofilm that clings to the inside of the shower head, reports the National Academy of Science.

Lead researcher Professor Norman Pace, said: "If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium, which may not be too healthy."  BBC Article

If you want a scientific article, here it is.

Gives you something to think about and another reason to appreciate your water softener.

If you don't have one yet - give us a call.

Clean your water cooler!

If you have a water cooler, it is important to clean it regularly. How often it should be done varies with recommendations from yearly, to every 6 months to Health Canada' recommendation of every time you change the bottle. Health Canada Bottled Water Page. 

How do you clean your cooler? These are the steps that we use:

1)     Unplug cord and allow the unit to come to room temperature. For Hot and Cold coolers, run some water out of the hot tap after unplugging to cool the water.

2)   Remove the bottle.  Empty the reservoir through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

3)      Remove the lid of your dispenser.  No-Spill tops require a little extra effort to pull off and push on. Some have a locking pin. Some require a partial counter-clockwise turn before removing.

4)      Mix a cleaning solution by adding 1 tablespoon of household bleach to 1 gallon of fresh water. Thoroughly wipe inside of reservoir with cleaning solution and a clean cloth or paper towel.

5)      Fill reservoir with cleaning solution. For Hot and Cold coolers, open the hot faucet until water comes out and top up the reservoir with solution.

6)      Spray a diluted solution of bleach and water inside the faucet spouts.  Let stand for 5 minutes, and then drain through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

7)      Fill the reservoir with fresh water. For Hot and Cold coolers, open the hot faucet until water comes out and top up the reservoir with fresh water.

8)      Drain through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

9)      Repeat steps 7 & 8 once more.

10)  Remove the air filter from the top.

11)  Clean the top in a clean sink filled with fresh water and a mild bleach solution.

12)  Rinse the top with fresh water, and dry with clean paper towel.

13)  Replace air filter

14)  Replace cooler top.

15)  Replace bottle.

16)  Open faucets one at a time until water runs from each.

17)  Plug unit back in.

18) Water should be chilled and hot, if so equipped in about 1/2 hour.

Just look at the top benefits of drinking water!

Drinking plenty of water each day prevents dehydration, cleans out the body and promotes healing processes.
A steady diet of 8 glasses of water a day (ideally, half your body weight in ounces of water), when it’s pure and free of contaminants, will:

• Improve your energy
• Remove toxins and waste products from your body
• Allow for proper digestion
• Increase your mental and physical performance
• Help you lose weight
• Reduce headaches and dizziness
• Keep skin healthy and glowing

There is a difference between drinking pure water and beverages that contain water. Coffee, soft drinks, tea and fruit beverages may contain substances that are not only harmful, but actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water.

For each cup of coffee you consume, your body needs 3 cups of water to compensate for the water loss that occurs due to coffee’s diuretic effect.
Other caffeinated beverages, such as soft drinks and tea, also stimulate the adrenal glands and act as diuretics, robbing your body of necessary water. Soft drinks contain phosphorus, which can lead to depletion of bone calcium, and various acids, which can cause erosion of the enamel on your teeth. A 12-ounce can of regular soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of white sugar and loads of empty calories.

Fruit beverages or drinks such as PowerAde, Gatorade, lemonade, etc. may be fortified with vitamins or calcium, but usually has 10% or less real fruit juice. Sugar is the added sweetener. If you are drinking too much of these beverages daily, you may be unknowingly adding extra unwanted pounds to your waistline.

Reservoir Tips

Reservoirs must be properly maintained to ensure the best possible water quality. Treatment of reservoirs may harm fish, and care should be taken. 

Poorly maintained reservoir

These procedures are based on our experience with reservoirs since 1968 and are our recommendations. They should be used as a guide only. Please remember to take all necessary precautions when using chemicals.

Aeration
Dugout aeration will tend to inhibit algae growth, and will lessen the odour problems associated with anaerobic decomposition.

Taste, Odor, Color
The foul taste, odour and colour in reservoir water usually results from algae or water plants. Decomposing algae and plants on the bottom of the water produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives the water a "rotten-egg" taste and odour. By the end of winter, water may become black. Control of algae and plants during the spring and summer will reduce these problems.

Controlling Aquatic Vegetation
All preventative and mechanical methods should be considered prior to chemical treatment.

Preventative Methods 
Deeper dugouts with steeper slopes reduce the shallow areas where plants grow rapidly. Limit nutrients:  

• Flood diversion dikes with gated culvert inlet.
• Grass the water course and the area around the dugout.
• KEEP LIVESTOCK OUT!

Mechanical Methods

• Hand pull plants
• drag a heavy chain or harrows across the bottom to cut plants

Polydex

Polydex is a mineral based bacteriostatic algaecide liquid concentrate that can:

• Reduce algae, bacteria and associated toxins
• Improve colour, taste and smell in the water
• Reduce suspended solids
• Reduce organic film build up in lines

It is easy to apply and quickly disperses. Initial treatment is 1:60,000 followed by periodic testing with maintenance dosages at 1:500,000

Copper Sulphate (Bluestone)
Copper sulphate can be an effective treatment for algae. It is more effective if used before the algae population becomes heavy. To apply, it may be placed in a burlap sack and dragged around the reservoir, or the water filling the
reservoir may run over the sack. The dosage is 1 to 2 pounds per 100,000
gallons.

If heavy blooms of blue-green algae develop, use caution. Another source of
water should be used for 2 weeks after treatment. Copper sulphate is toxic to fish. If you must treat a dugout containing fish, treat 1/3 at a time and space the treatments 24 hours apart. Water usage should be avoided for 24 hours.

Turbidity
Reservoirs that become turbid (muddy) will usually clear by themselves. Be
careful not to confuse colour caused by decaying algae or organic matter with
turbidity, as treatment is different. If turbidity persists, Alum may be used. The alum should be dissolved in water 1/2 pound per gallon) and spread evenly over the surface. The dosage is 10 to 20 pound per 100,000 gallons.

Reglone A (Diquat)
This chemical is used to control aquatic plants. Treated water should not be used by humans or animals for 2 weeks. Contact your supplier for correct dosage.

Granular Chlorine
More effective than Copper Sulphate for organic matter and algae is granular
chlorine. It may be simply broadcast over the surface. The dosage is 4# per 100,000 gallons. In severe cases, it may be necessary to repeat treatment in a week.

Copper sulphate treatment may be
applied at the same time for enhanced
results.

Gravel Filters 
Gravel filters installed in or beside the
dugout are not recommended. 

Floating Intakes
During the summer, 80% of the impurities are close to the bottom. A floating intake, 3 feet from the surface willcollect the best water. During winter, lower the float to below the expected ice level.

Floats may be constructed by 16' of 1 1/2" pipe coupled in a ring, or 3' of 3" PVC or ABS pipe capped at each end.

Blue Green Algae
Blue—Green Algae can be toxic. Please follow this link to Alberta Environment
information:

http://www.environment.alberta.ca/documents/Blue-green_algal_FS.pdf

Should you drink soft water?

One of the most common questions that we hear about water softeners is whether we should drink the water. It's a great question and one of the first things that I wanted to know when we started.

A water softeners purpose is to remove the hardness minerals from water. Hardness minerals cause:

• Bathtub ring and film on shower tiles
• Excess soap usage in bathing, laundry, dishes
• Laundry to wear out faster
• Scaling in your water appliances, reducing life
• And a lot of other problems that we have covered in an earlier post  

But really, if you think about it - this is really the "Working" water in your home. A Water Softener is designed to improve the working water in you home.


So now I better get to the question.


The way that a water softener works is called "ion exchange" but really that just means that it trades the hardness minerals for the sodium in your water. The amount of sodium that a water softener will add to your water depends on the hardness, but normally here it works out to about 80 milligrams of sodium in a liter of water. A single slice of bread is 125 - 150 milligrams. 

So really, if you are not on a sodium restricted diet, the answer is normally yes. Here's some information from the Mayo Clinic.


What can you do if you have a water softener and don't want to dringk the water?

1. If the plumbing lines are accessible, you can bypass a tap for your drinking water
2. You can use potassium chloride to recharge your water softener. A couple of brands are Nature's Own or Softtouch. This product is about 5 times the price of salt, but then you will be getting potassium instead of sodium.
3. You can drink bottled water.
4. Many people are deciding that they want better drinking water. Reverse osmosis systems can provide the best drinking water and remove the sodium.

The Hard Cost of Hard Water

Do you realize how much hard water costs you?

We've been installing water softeners for 44 years, but today many people consider them a luxury. So we've put together some facts for you.

A recent article by Money Talks News lists these effects of Hard Water:

1. Calcium rings or deposits in tubs, sinks, or dishwashers
2. Spots on dishes or shower doors
3. Reduced foaming and cleaning abilities of soaps and detergents
4. Reduced hot water supply
5. Dingy and yellowed clothes with soapy residues
6. Clogged pipes, shower heads, or faucets
7. Leaky pipes

 Over 85% of homes in Canada have hard water, but you should get yours tested. Most water treatment companies offer water tests (ours is free), or you can contact a lab. If you have municipal water you can contact your water authority. Private water supply owners can contact their public health unit.


So what do the numbers mean?

Surface water in Southern Alberta runs from 7 - 18 grains per gallon hardness - pretty hard. 


If You Have Hard Water What Do You Do About It?
You are guessing I'm going to say get a water softener aren't you? Good guess. You can rent or own water softeners. The choice is yours. We generally feel that if you are going to have the softener for more than 4 years, it is probably cheaper to own it. However, many home owners choose to rent simply so they never have to worry about service or replacement. 

The Water Quality Association commissioned a study that found that water softeners are one of the best ways to save energy. They keep water heaters and appliances running efficiently, and they keep shower heads and faucets flowing freely.

This past year, another study funded by the WQA – and conducted by a different company – found that water softeners also allow you to wash your clothes in cooler temperatures and to use less laundry and dish detergent. In other words, they’re saying that if you have a water softener installed, your clothes will come out just as clean even though you reduced the temperature and detergent by 50 percent.

Newsletter

Look at this - Our June Newsletter is out a couple of days early!

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A GREEN Switch

There is a switch going on. A GREEN switch. The switch from bottled water to reusable water containers has been seen across the country, in businesses, homes, waiting rooms, people are seeing the value in drinking from the tap of a filtered water system.

Even Nestlé, the world’s biggest food company, is seeing shrinking water sales as more people are switching to the tap, as reported in Bloomberg News reports. Nestle owns more than 60 water brands including Perrier, Vittel and Pure Life, the world’s best-selling label, and relies heavily on western Europe and North America. 

The world’s biggest food company has been losing ground since 2006 as consumers switch to tap and filtered water and as concerns over the environmental impact of plastic packaging and energy used in transportation deter some shoppers, said Hope Lee, an analyst at Euromonitor International in London.

Consumers are driven by certain social trends, and recently many have found the regular manufacturing and delivery of plastic water bottles and jugs to be costly and damaging to the planet. Purchasing reusable water bottles and bottleless water coolers are affordable options for almost anyone. Filtered water dispensers can be installed in public and private spaces to give people the option to fill their reusable containers.

We can make the switch from bottled to bottleless quick and easy. Our certified water specialists will help you choose from a variety of purification systems and install it so you can enjoy great water on tap.

We are almost 70% Water

We are made up of so much water, it should really make us think about the water that we consume.

• 85% of gray matter in the brain is water
• 83% of blood is water
• Even bone is 22% water.
• Total water in an average adult - 37 Liters
• Sound is conducted through the middle ear by water
• Water serves as a cushion for the brain and spinal cord
• Water serves as a lubricant for moving surfaces such as joints, the heart, and intestine.
• Water moistens the surface of the lungs for gas diffusion.
• Water is the medium for digestion, absorption, metabolism, secretion, and excretion.
• A six-year study of more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38-100 in the May 1, 2002, American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who drank more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack than those who drank less than two glasses. The protective effect was even greater in men!
   

Do you think it matters what water you put in your body?

Drinking from a hose

Ah summer. What a great time of year to be a kid! Warm days spent outside playing - no school to worry about, just fun.

Water always played a big part - whether it was going to the beach, or the pool or most often just playing with the hose in the yard. Running through the sprinkler, sipping from the hose when thirsty.

It was always better sipping from the hose than going to the house. Trying to set the water flow just right to drink. I don't know about you but somehow we either got it wrong and we got all wet, or our friends - played with the valve to get us.


When I had daughters, I taught them how to drink form the hose and yes - i might have played with the valve to get them wet. I even taught my 14 month old grandson how to last summer.


BUT WAIT!

A new study released is exposing the dangers of drinking from the hose. Garden hoses don't have the same requirements as drinking water plumbing. The research team left a section of garden hose filled with water out in the sun over multiple days. When the water was tested it was found to exceed federal standards for safe drinking water for several chemicals — including four times the standard considered safe for phthalates, 18 times that for lead and 20 times that for BPA.

A spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said that the commission would never recommend that any consumer drink from a garden hose. “The real health concern here is bacterial contamination,” she said. “Garden hoses sit outside and bake in the sun. Anything can get in them, and it’s a perfect environment for all sorts of microbial communities.”

Now that's a mouthful, but I don't think I'll be taking a mouthful of hose water any time soon.

Newsletter

Our May Newsletter is out. It has the latest water news, details on our Trade-In Special, and a couple of bonuses.

Check it Out 

Water Softener Checklist

If you are considering a water softener - and believe us you should be - take the time to look over this list. We have included things that we think are important to at least consider. There is some room at the bottom to add your own.

Printable Version

Feature	Ecowater	Other #1	Other #2
Appropriate size. To determine required capacity for your family, multiply: hardness in grains x Number of people x 65 gallons per person x 4 days for reserve capacity on demand softeners. Eg. for 5 people in Lethbridge: 13 gpg x 5 x 65 x 4 = 16,900 grains or larger water softener.	YES
Demand recharge tracks water use and only recharges when needed – Saving Salt and Water	YES
Cabinet Styling – softener and salt tank in one	YES
Low voltage electronic timer for accuracy, reliability, and safety	YES
Certified to appropriate NSF Standards	YES
Zerofootprint certification – Certifying that there is no net carbon footprint	YES
Bypass valve included – allowing service etc. without shutting off water supply	YES
Plumbing installation included	YES
Parts and Service available locally	YES
Upflow brining increasing capacity, reduces salt consumption and makes softer water	YES
1” full porting and connections for reduced pressure loss	Most Models
Remote monitor letting your know of any possible problems and when to add salt	Most Models
Electronic connection from softener over phone lines to diagnose problems	Most Models
Digital display showing capacity remaining and other valuable monitoring information	Most Models
Salt monitoring lets you know when you need to add salt	Most Models
Proportional brining only recharges the portion of the softening bed that has been used saving salt and water	Most Models
Stratified resin bed using 2 types of resin for more efficiency	Most Models
Chlorine removal option	Top Model