06 November 2017

Water Softeners Help Prevent Bacterial Growth

One of the most cost‐effective ways to reduce the mineral deposits, particularly calcium and magnesium, from household water systems is with a salt‐based water softener. But, what you may not have thought about is by removing mineral deposits, you are also preventing bacterial growth.

If you have ever handled a piece of PVC piping, you know how smooth the interior surface can be. This aids water flow but it also benefits you in another way. The pipes used in home plumbing often have smooth interior surfaces that can prevent bacteria from settling and growing. But, scaling caused by hard water can provide a perfect home for bacteria – giving your pipes a less than smooth interior surface with ridges and bumps of mineral build up.

Bacterial growth in plumbing has been documented and can cause serious hygienic problems in water systems, especially in hospital buildings and hotels. Factors like water flow and plumbing materials may also influence the growth rate of bacteria, but once it’s in your pipes, it can be distributed throughout your home each time you turn on the faucet.

Source: http://www.saltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Salt-for-Dummies.pdf