How Much Sodium Is In My Softened Water?

A spreadsheet calculation for private

and small PWSs using Ion Exchangers

WV Bureau for Public Health

Environmental Engineering Division

System: ABC plant

PWSID No.: 12334455
Date: Nov. 30, 2009
(Based on raw water analyses and assumed removals by the ion exchange softener)

a. Laboratory analyses:
i Unsoftened water:
total hardness = 68 mg/l, as CaCO3
calcium hardness = 42 mg/l, as CaCO3
iron concentration = 1.74 mg/l
manganese concentration = 0.182 mg/l

ii Softened water:
total hardness = 6 mg/l, as CaCO3
calcium hardness = 2 mg/l, as CaCO3
iron concentration = 0.00 mg/l
manganese concentration = 0.000 mg/l

b. Magnesium hardness (total hardness - calcium hardness):

Unsoftened water: = 26 mg/l, as CaCO3
Softened water: = 4 mg/l, as CaCO3

c. Calculation of removals of hardness, iron, manganese by the ion exchanger:

Calcium Hardness = 40 mg/l, as CaCO3
(Unsoftened - softened water)
Magnesium Hardness = 22 mg/l, as CaCO3
(Unsoftened - softened water)
Iron = 1.74 mg/l
(Unsoftened - softened water)
Manganese = 0.182 mg/l
(Unsoftened - softened water)

d. Conversion of calcium and magnesium hardness removals to calcium and magnesium ion removals:
Ca-Hardness: = 16.0 mg/l of Ca(+2) removed.
calcium removal x (40/100)
Mg-Hardness: = 5.3 mg/l of Mg (+2) removed.
magnesium removal x (24.3/100)

e. Calculation of sodium replacement of hardness, iron and manganese in the ion exchanger:
Ca (+2) to Na (+1): = 18.4 mg/l of Na added.
(Ca removed x 46/40)
Mg (+2) to Na (+1): = 10.1 mg/l of Na added.
(Mg removed x 46/24.3)
Fe (+2) to Na (+1): = 1.4 mg/l of Na added.
(Fe removed x 46/55.8)
Mn (+2) to Na (+1): = 0.2 mg/l of Na added.
(Mn removed x 46/54.9)

Total Sodium Added = 30.1 mg/l of Na added