Introduction

MT Hard Water of Montana Tech of the University of Montana has submitted Task 3: Treatment Technology Validation for Water Softening Technology as an entry into the 2012 WERC Environmental Design Contest.

There are several commercially available technologies that treat water hardness. The objective of this project is to develop a strategy to evaluate and validate different water hardness treatment technologies. MT Hard Water has studied several technologies including: electromagnetic water treatment, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis. For validation purposes, an electromagnetic water treatment system (ScaleRID) was selected according to the WERC task description.

Using SQWRE

MT Hard Water has developed a hard water evaluation tool that can help you determine the type of treatment technology you will need. To use the tool click the Hardness Removal Evaluator (SQWRE) link on the left.

Testing at Home

For evaluation purposes all inital tests can be conducted at home using pH strips and total hardness tablets. The instructions for these tests can be found by clicking here: Water Hardness Removal Evaluator (SQWRE) or by reading below

Instructions for using SQWRE

To use the SQWRE water hardness evaluation tool, you will need to input several parameters into our Water Hardness Removal Evaluator (SQWRE). Guidelines for inputting these parameters can be seen below:

1. pH levels can be tested using pH testing strips that can be found at local aquatic supply stores or online: here

2. Water hardness levels can be tested using water hardness tablets. These tablets can be found: here

3. Information about water pressure and flow rater for water at your home can be found through your local water utility company.

4. Water temperature can be determined by collecting a small sample of water in a cup and taking a standard thermometer temperature reading using a Farenheit measurement.