[Mike 108]

I supposedly live in a 'soft' water area and (even though the tds out of the tap is 120-150 ppm) I still operate using a 'Di only' van mounted system.

I don't want to have a RO unit, but I have considered storing rainwater as an alternative way of saving on resin.

Not having a Ro unit, I have never researched them 'fully'.

Just out of curiosity - If a person does live in a 'HARD' water area, have they GOT to have a RO unit.

What is a typical tds reading in a HARD water area?

Thanks

Mike

[gerard mcmanus]

as far as I know in hard water areas, the di only wont be enough to purify the water and you will leave spots, so need to run it through an RO kit.

[sparklebright]

I live in a 'very' hard water area in Kent my TDS pre-treatment is about 400 ppm.

I need to have RO, without it I use resin at a very high rate.
I think even with 120-150ppm you would save money if you used an RO, I know it means storage etc. But with an RO i use a bag of resin every 6 months if that.

[mingram123]

Hi Mike , Southport is hard water area and 230 ppm , most cleaners use r/o of some sort .

[Mike 108]

Thanks, guys.

Ewan.

The classifications and tds figures that you mention - are they official figures?

Cheers.

Mike

[Mike 108]

Ewan

I've just 'googled' and they are official figures of United Utilities (Water Board).

However, they are for 'ppm of Calcium' only - not including other contaminants.

Therefore, you could have a TDS of over 100 but the water could still be classed as 'soft' if less than 17 of those dissolved solids were Calcium (I think ?).

Cheers for the info, and for getting me researching/thinking.

Mike

[EZclean]

my TDS is 98-100. just ordered an RO. i get through about 1200ltrs p/wk of pure. currently costing around 24quid a week in resin, Tulsion.
if the RO gets it down to 5-6, then the resin will be doing less work, it may last 90 times longer. pay for itself in just a few months.

[craig21t]

as far as I know in hard water areas, the di only wont be enough to purify the water and you will leave spots, so need to run it through an RO kit.

not quite correct mate, di only will purify any water, just wont last as long.

[gerard mcmanus]

as far as I know in hard water areas, the di only wont be enough to purify the water and you will leave spots, so need to run it through an RO kit.

not quite correct mate, di only will purify any water, just wont last as long.

I know, that’s what I thought      know now.

[Mike 108]

my TDS is 98-100. just ordered an RO. i get through about 1200ltrs p/wk of pure. currently costing around 24quid a week in resin, Tulsion.
if the RO gets it down to 5-6, then the resin will be doing less work, it may last 90 times longer. pay for itself in just a few months.

Wow! that's 2p per litre!

I normally use 15 - 20 litres for a large 3 bed semi, which would work out at 30 - 40 pence each.

I've been under the assumption that my actual costs for resin are 15p per litre of pure water (half of what you are saying it costs you).

I'll have to double check my 'workings out'.

Out of interest - I use 2 Di bottles 'in series' and change the resin in 'the first' when the TDS reading out of 'the second' reaches 4 ppm.

How do you do it?

Thanks

Mike

[dd]

Hard water anything over 100ppm!

Soft   0 - 17
Slightly hard 17 – 60
Moderately hard 60 -120
Hard   120 – 180
Very Hard   180 – & over

tds as measured in ppm as far as I know has little to do with hardness of water. I live in a hard water area and use a water softener.

tds into softener 188
tds out of softener 184
Softeners operate by means of ion exchange, calcium ions are exhanged for sodium ions (I think)

Main benefit of a softener is to prolong life of RO membranes. If you live in a soft water area you obviously won't need a softener and should get a long life from your RO membranes, provided you protect them by regularly flushing and changing pre-filters when due.

With a tds of 120 to 150 would think an RO would save you money on resin.

[Mike 108]

That's interesting and good to know.

Mike

[doak]

i live in suffolk and my tap water is 350 ish       

[Mr Formby]

Why not bid on this

http://cgi.ebay.ie/water-fed-pole-ro-system-unger-filtration-system-hiflo_W0QQit...