Soft, hard, disinfected, deionized Water: do you know what each of these mean?!

Have you ever wondered about what all the different descriptions of things that can be done to water mean?

For example, when someone travels they may say “The water here is hard and that really caused my hair to feel like straw after taking a shower!” Do you really get what that means? Hard water? Soft water? Does it mean the water hits you like hail (hard pellets! YIKES!) No way!

Well… let’s dig in together and take apart a description from our own Purologix’s website of what we offer:

Straight from our site: “Our Purologix technologies include water softening, filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), deionization (DI), ozone (O3), UV sterilization, Chlorine dioxide disinfection (ClO2), and other specialized water treatment technologies.”

So let’s go over those terms for today’s blog!

1st – Water softening:

Water softening is when calcium, magnesium, and other metals are removed from the water. This helps make the water “softer”: i.e., more gentle on our skin, hair, plumbing, etc. (think you get the point!)

2nd – Filtered water/reverse osmosis: this is a super effective way to clear your water of most all contaminants. The way it works is it uses pressure to force water through a filter type structure that removes the bad and leaves the good! (that good ole drinking water and none of the yuck!) **Filtered water is the recommended water for people with weak immune systems according to docs, because well, the bad has been removed!

3rd – Deionization (DI) – this is simply the process that focuses on removing all salts that are dissolved into the water we have running from our taps. Basically think of this as a science experience… with the use of some ions, calcium & magnesium are removed and then all other metallic ions (i.e. = bad stuff in your water) and replaces the sodium in your water with hydrogen ions (i.e.=much healthier, cleaner water for you to drink and use! J)

4th – UV sterilization: Okay, for this description I want you to think of the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word sterile. I wonder if you thought of doctors/hospitals/scientific labs, something along those lines? Welp…this nifty process uses UV light to create an environment in the water where there is no chance of bacteria, mold, or other pathogens to be able to grow!

5th- Chlorine dioxide disinfection (ClO2): Okay, don’t freak out, we aren’t talking about putting chlorine IN your water! Chlorine dioxide is actually very different from the regular chlorine you use to keep your pool looking good! So basically think of this ClO2 as simply you would any disinfectant, but this one is specifically for your water. Chlorine dioxide released as a gas in water can control bacteria, destroy natural impurities within the water (things that would cause those trihalomethanes I mentioned in a previous blog...you know all those bad things in the water that suck and make us sick!) Another cool use for Chlorine dioxide is decontamination of air in public places (examples where ClO2 have been used are in buildings after anthrax scares in 2001, areas kit in Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina to fight mold).

I hope going over some of these cool ways we can help your water be the best it can be for you helps you to understand your need for us! Feel free to give my buddy, our Purologix water specialist, Mark Rhodes a call (919.452.7883) and he can take a look at your specific water needs and help you out! J

Information and ideas sources: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/filtered-water-safer-than-tap-water2.htm

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+filtered+water

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/49-water-di-process.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_dioxide