Water Hardness Treatment for UK Launderette
Some businesses are more reliant on water than others. In the case of a launderette, they are highly reliant on their water supply. This particular launderette had very hard water which was being a detriment to their business. Obviously they required that the water was softened but they also needed the water to be available at all times. The launderette is open 24 hours a day so if the water is unavailable at anytime, then their services have to stop too.
What We Recommended
- 13” x 54” duplex softener with MAV
- 140 litre brine tank
The Solution
Sometimes, a simple solution is best. The launderette is using mains water which is already safe for consumption. It can however, still have very high water hardness. Many areas in the UK and Ireland are in locations with porous rock foundations which in turn causes mineral deposits to find their way into the water supply. The launderette is a classic example of being in one of these locations.
Water softeners work by removing magnesium and/or calcium ions from the water. It does this by swapping the calcium/magnesium ions with sodium ions in a process called ion exchange.
The MAV (Motorised Access Valve) alternates the flow of water between the two connected Softeners; both controlled by an independent Clack Valve. When one of the tanks requires regenerating (an automatic process using softener salt from the 140 litre brine tank), the MAV switches the water to the other tank whilst the original goes through the regeneration process.
The same could also be achieved by a TT Valve which is just one Clack Valve controlling the flow between two tanks. However, the reason we recommended the MAV with two Valves is because it also has the advantage of being able to continue providing water even when one of the tanks requires maintenance. With a TT Valve, if one of the tanks becomes damaged or the softener resin does need replacing, the water supply has to be interrupted to do this. With a MAV, one tank can be isolated and completely removed from the system whilst the second tank continues to work, with no interruption to the water supply.
Hardness Level and Final Result
The launderette needed their water softened as hard water causes limescale which will build up in the washing machines and the pipes. This results in downtime for maintenance and expensive repairs and replacements. They also needed the hard water treating to ensure clothes could actually be cleaned. A common issue with hard water is that it makes it much more difficult for soaps and detergents to activate and lather up – a terrible result for a launderette!
For water to be considered soft, the level of CaCO3 in the water needs to be between 0 and 50 mg/l. The launderette’s water supply was well over 200 mg/l. Now, with the duplex softener in place the softness of the water is almost entirely down to 0 mg/l, and definitely well within the limit of between 0 and 50 mg/l. The launderette is no longer plagued with issues from hard water and they are more than happy with the results.
Bespoke Water Treatment Solutions
Whether it’s a simple system such as this one or a more complex water treatment solution for challenging, multi-faceted water issues, we’re sure we can help. Get in touch with us at our UK or Ireland branch and one of our experts will be more than happy to help.
Email UK Office – Or call us on 01538 399048
Email Ireland Office – Or call us on 067 34222
