| In many parts of Canada, the water coming out | | | | means saving money. |
| of our taps contains a significant concentration of | | | | Take the water heater as an example. Research |
| dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. | | | | has demonstrated that using hard water causes |
| These compounds are absorbed the water | | | | calcium deposits to accumulate inside the water |
| passes through earth on its perpetual journey | | | | heater. The U. S. Bureau of Standards reports |
| known as the water cycle. The level of | | | | that a build up of ¼” of scale inside of the |
| concentration determines the relative hardness or | | | | water heater can waste a significant amount of |
| softness of the water we use for drinking, | | | | energy. A study conducted by New Mexico State |
| bathing, washing our clothes and cooking. | | | | University found that in electric water heaters, |
| Water is considered “hard” if it has | | | | using soft water resulted in a 21.7% savings in |
| between 120 and 180 milligrams per liter of | | | | energy. With gas-fired units, the energy saving |
| dissolved minerals (see Table 1). Based upon this | | | | was 29.5%. Given that water heaters account for |
| standard, the populations of several Canadian | | | | approximately 20% of energy usage in the |
| urban centres use hard and in some cases very | | | | average household, the use of a water softener |
| hard water every day. | | | | could reduce energy costs significantly. |
| | | | There are many firms that market water |
| How does using hard water affect the household | | | | softeners or whole house water treatment |
| budget? In other words, can installing a water | | | | systems. They will be happy to do a free test of |
| treatment system save money? These days one | | | | your drinking water and provide you with an |
| budget item seems to be on everyone’s | | | | analysis of the results.rainsoftdirect.com |
| mind: energy. Whether it is the rising price of | | | | homewatertest. |
| gasoline, electricity or natural gas, saving energy | | | | |