Water Hardness Testing

• Introduction of Water Hardness

Water hardness is a very important indicator to measure the quality of water and has a large impact on industrial water. In addition, it also affects public production and life safety. Water hardness is an important factor in the production of pot scale that affects the quality of products. Total water hardness is the measurement of the total amount of calcium and magnesium in water. The concentration of calcium and magnesium in natural water usually far exceeds that of any other multivalent cation. Therefore, total hardness is the sum of all carbonate and non-carbonate salts of calcium and magnesium present in water.

If the water hardness above 100 ppm (parts per million), hard water treatment is recommended. If you are unsure of the hardness level of your water supply, BOC Sciences offers an accurate water hardness testing service. Our method is quick and inexpensive, so contact our team of experts now if you are interested!

• Carbonate hardness and non-carbonate hardness

Hardness can be divided into carbonate hardness and non-carbonate hardness.

• In general, carbonate hardness refers to calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate, which can form scale in water heaters and boilers. Calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate can be removed or reduced by the operations of boiling, so carbonate hardness is also known as 'temporary hardness ', and when this bicarbonate is heated, they precipitate as solid carbonates.
• Non-carbonate hardness is primarily nitrates, chlorides, and sulfates of calcium and magnesium. Non-carbonate hardness is also referred to as 'permanent hardness '.

• Relationship between alkalinity and water hardness

Hard water usually forms solid deposits that can damage equipment, while soft water can be corrosive. Therefore, measuring the hardness level of water helps manufacturers find the delicate balance between equipment scaling and corrosion.

Figure 1. Soft Water Solutions

• Why Measure the Hardness of Water?

Hard water often forms solid deposits consisting primarily of calcium and magnesium salts that can damage equipment, while soft water can be corrosive, so it is important to measure the hardness level in process water to maintain the delicate balance between scaling and corrosion.

Our Methodologies - Titration Method

At BOC Sciences, the hardness of water is usually measured by applying a colorimetric method with EDTA solution. The titration method involves adding an indicator to the water sample until it changes color. BOC Sciences supports both burettes and other water hardness testing kits for titration of samples for total hardness testing. In addition, we can measure calcium hardness and magnesium hardness separately by adjusting the pH and using different indicators.

Figure 2. Water Hardness Scale

Application of Our Services

BOC Sciences provides comprehensive water hardness testing services to prevent equipment scaling and possible damage. We are able to monitor calcium and magnesium levels separately, as well as total hardness, to help you correctly monitor and manage water hardness in your specific application.

• Drinking Water Industry

The high hardness of drinking water can lead to scaling, and if the water is too soft, it can lead to pipe corrosion. In addition, drinking water with high hardness value will pose health hazard to humans.

• Wastewater Treatment

Our water hardness analysis can help you monitor the water hardness to optimize efficiency of your wastewater treatment process.

• Testing of Swimming Pool and Spa Water

Water that is too 'hard ' can lead to scaling and calcium carbonate deposits, while 'soft ' water can corrode pool surfaces.

• Power Industry

We help you monitor and remove all salts that cause hardness.

• Chemical Manufacturing Industry

BOC Sciences monitors the mineral content of the incoming water in order to properly adjust the quality of the product. Our testing results help you to optimize the performance of your water softening system, and to evaluate the load on your reverse osmosis system.