Hard Water in Almeria: Can a Water Softener Help You?

Many homes in Almeria, particularly those on private water sources, suffer from hard water which leaves its tell-tale chalky white residue in kettles, on taps and showerheads. Almeria is, in fact, one of the hardest water areas in Spain.  But what causes hard water, and can water softeners solve the problem? This no-nonsense guide is designed to give you the facts, without the marketing spin, so that you can be informed.

What is Hard Water and Soft Water?

If you have heard people use these terms, but not quite understood what they mean, the answer comes down to the mineral content of water. Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals in the form of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, as well as traces of iron. Collectively, these minerals are known as limescale.

Soft water has low levels of limescale, and therefore a noticeably different ‘feel’ when showering or bathing in it. Where soft water feels ‘silky’ and leaves skin, hair and textiles coming out of the washing machine soft, hard water feels ‘rough’ and leaves skin and hair dryer, and textiles coarser. If you suffer from eczema you will particularly notice hard water as it exacerbates the condition.

Why Hard Water is a Problem

If you have hard water, and therefore lots of limescale, it creates both visible and hidden problems in the house.

Visible issues include:

• Limescale on taps, shower heads and inside kettles

• Glass and shiny surfaces that are streaked and blotchy

The hidden issues, which are far more serious, include limescale build-up in:

• Water pipes

• Water heaters and boilers

• Dishwashers and washing machines

This build-up of limescale over time reduces efficiency leading to increased energy consumption, creates overheating, restricts water flow and ultimately leads to premature appliance failure. In very hard areas like Almeria, the limescale can aggravate eczema and psoriasis for people prone to suffering from those conditions.

Tackling Hard Water: Why Not All Solutions Are Equal

There are many products on the market that claim to soften water, but the technologies behind the spin are very different. The technology falls into three broad categories.

Limescale Inhibitors (Magnetic and Electronic)

These devices are probably some of the most heavily marketed ‘solutions’ to hard water, and range in price from budget models for under €50 to units that cost several thousand. The key thing to understand is that they aim to inhibit limescale build-up, not remove it from the water.

Most limescale inhibitors use a strong magnetic or electromagnetic field to alter the structure of calcium carbonate to prevent it sticking to pipes.

Limitations

• The limescale is not removed from the water so it ends up somewhere e.g. an appliance

• The effectiveness of the device is governed by distance; it is most effective on water moving close to the device, but that drops rapidly the further away the water travels

• The magnetic effect weakens over time

• The device has no drain to wash away unwanted minerals

Homeowners are often tempted to buy limescale inhibitors because they are usually cheap and easy to install, but they are not true water softeners and do not remove limescale. 

Water Softeners (Salt-based Ion Exchange)

Where magnetic devices inhibit the build up of calcium carbonate in water close to the device, a water softener removes the calcium and magnesium from water totally.

These machines work by passing the water through a tank filled with polymer resin beads which trap the minerals using an ion exchange process which results in hard water flowing in, and soft water flowing out. When the resin beads become saturated with minerals, the machine ‘flushes’ them out with salt water and washes the limescale away down the drain. This flushing process is called regeneration. Water softeners always have:

• A hard water inlet

• A soft water outlet

• A drain connection

There are three common types of water softener:

1. Single Tank - Timer Controlled

These are generally budget machines which regenerate (flush out the limescale) on a fixed schedule, regardless of how much water has been used. They are generally imported machines, with no certifications and short warranties.  Drawbacks of these budget machines include:

• High levels of water waste and salt usage

• No soft water is available while they are regenerating

• They need an electricity supply

• The water they produce is not suitable for drinking due to high salt levels

• They aren’t suitable for use with modern aluminium heat-exchange boilers

• If left unused for periods, such as in holiday homes, they can be damaged

2. Single Tank - Metered Control

A step up from the time controlled single tank, these machines regenerate based on the amount of water actually used, which makes them more efficient. They’re usually mid price range with a 1-3 year warranty.

Pros:

• Better salt and water usage efficiency than timer controlled units

• More reliable for homes with part-time occupancy

Cons:

• They are still not suitable for drinking water (salt levels)

• Also require electricity to operate

• Have limited compatibility with aluminium heat-exchange boilers

3. Twin Tank - Metered Control

These units are the most advanced and efficient currently on the market and often come with warranties up to 10 years. As the name implies, the machines contain two tanks of resin beads - one tank supplies the soft water whilst the other regenerates in the background. After regenerating, the resin is washed with soft water, removing any residual sa

lt residue. Thanks to this back-up, the result is an uninterrupted supply of soft water 24/7.

These machines:

• Have the most efficient use of water and salt

• Do not require electricity; using the flow of water itself to power internal components

• Produce water that is safe for drinking - the leading manufacturer, Kinetico, produces water that has lower levels of salt per glass than milk does

• Are compatible with modern boilers

• Are fully certified, robust and long-lived

Hybrid Water Softeners

These systems use replaceable cartridges that contain resin beads, but they come with limitations that include:

• No automatic regeneration

• Limited resin surface area

• Prone to sudden failures when the resin beads are saturated

• Risk of resin breakdown residue entering the plumbing system

• No warning of when replacement cartridges are needed

• On-going cartridge replacement cost

Once these filters reach their capacity, blocked pipes and inconsistent performance and failures are common.

The Bottom Line

If your aim is to protect household appliances, improve water quality and eliminate limescale from your water properly, only a true salt-based water softener can do the job. Among those machines, twin-tank metered systems offer the highest levels of performance, efficiency and reliability - particularly in areas of extreme hard-water such as Almeria.

Choosing the right system for your home depends on the level of water hardness - and this is where a free water test is a good first step - your household’s water usage and whether you want to be able to drink the water.