BASIC WATER CHARACTERISTICS

Water is the universal solvent. It will attempt to dissolve and take into solution anything it comes in contact with. Most water we use, whether from a municipal
or private source, is either ground water, surface water, or a mixture of both.
Since water will attempt to dissolve everything it comes in contact with, many dissolved minerals will be found in water supplies. The amount of dissolved
solids present in a water supply will depend on a variety of factors. Ground or surface water, the types of minerals in contact with water, and additives to municipal water supplies are some of the factors that determine the amount of
total dissolved solids.

Some minerals easily dissolve in water. Common table salt (Sodium Chloride)
will go completely into solution at room temperature and at standard atmospheric pressure. Other minerals do not easily dissolve in water. Limerock (Calcium Carbonate), will not go into solution if left in a glass of water on the kitchen counter. It will remain as a solid particle, not a dissolved solid in the water.

When the term "hardness" is used to describe water (hard water), it refers to the amount of "hard" minerals- those that do not dissolve easily in water- present in solution. Limerock (Calcium and Magnesium Carbonate) is found in abundance
in most ground water supplies. As stated above, limerock does not dissolve easily in water. However, when pressure is applied, as is the case in underground water supplies, lime rock is forced into solution and dissolves in large amounts. Since water distribution lines are under pressure, the dissolved limerock will remain in solution as long as high pressure and low temperature are maintained.

The ability of water to hold hard minerals in solution is primarily dependent on
these two factors - pressure and temperature. When the water is released from pressure or the temperature increases, the dissolved hard minerals will come out
of solution and reform as a solid particle in the form of hard scale deposits, hence the name hardness or hard water. The cube-like structure of the hardness molecules allows it to cling and build-up on itself. This scale will continue to form and will build up causing many problems in plumbing, hot water heaters, and
water fed equipment. This scale build up is most prominent in hot water
equipment.

HARD WATER SCALING

When introduced into the water, ScaleSafe works in three unique ways.

1) ScaleSafe acts as a scale inhibitor by distorting the almost perfect cube shape of calcium carbonate as it precipitates out of solution. By distorting the uniform shape, it will not allow the calcium carbonate to build up (deposit) on itself. It will also over time remove existing scale in the system. Furthermore, it increases the solubility of scale causing minerals. This helps keep them in solution as opposed to depositing as scale.

2) ScaleSafe sequesters iron and manganese preventing these minerals from forming oxides (rust) and precipitating out of solution, thus eliminating the red & black staining caused by iron & manganese.

3) ScaleSafe combines with the calcium carbonate in the water forming a protective film on the insides of pipes and water fed equipment which acts as a deterrent to corrosion and scale. This microfilm does not increase in thickness as it is continually washed off and replaced.