Once this is complete, the resin beads hold sodium ions. The system is
again ready to exchange the sodium ions for more calcium and mag-
nesium ions.
Unlike most other systems, the Kinetico water system's cleaning or regen-
eration process is done with soft water. Since you already know what a
difference cleaning with soft water can make throughout your home, it
only makes sense that the Kinetico water system cleans itself with soft
water too. And only clean, soft water is used to make the salt solution in
the salt storage tank.
How Your Water Softener Works
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium. Your Kinetico water system
contains resin beads, which hold sodium ions. When hard water passes
through the resin beads inside a Kinetico water system, the beads attract and
hold the calcium and magnesium ions in exchange for sodium. After this
ion exchange process, the water leaving your Kinetico water system is soft.
Once the resin bed is loaded with calcium and magnesium ions, it must be
cleansed (or regenerated) so that it can continue to soften water.The salt
in your salt storage tank mixes with water to wash the resin beads. The
brine solution loosens the hardness minerals which have built up on the
resin beads; then the system backwashes and flushes the hardness minerals
and salt solution away.
9
8
Regeneration
Cycle
Softening
Cycle
With Sodium Charged
Material
Completely Softened
Water Containing Sodium
in Exchange for Hardness
Water Softener Still
Delivering Completely
Softened Water
Regeneration with Salt
Brine now Necessary to
Recharge Material with
Sodium
Salt Brine most
Economical Source of
Sodium
15 to 20 Minutes Later
Regeneration Almost
Completed
Material Ready to
Exchange Sodium for
Hardness And Deliver
Softened Water
Water Softener
Water Containing
Hardness
Many Gallons Later
Capacity to Soften Hard
Water Now Ending
Waste Water Containing
Hardness in Exchange for
Sodium
Water Water Softener
Still Discharging
Wastewater Containing
Hardness
Excess Salt Brine Also
Removed
Water Softener
Fig. 3
