Softening plant

Softening is a process where calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions. Calcium and Magnesium ions associated with Alkalinity contribute for scale formation. These ions are also called as Total hardness. The strong acid cation ion exchange resin in sodium form is used for softening the water. When the resin is exhausted, it is regenerated with brine solution (sodium chloride) 10% or 15% brine solution is normally used for the regeneration. If the brine solution is passed from the bottom of the resin and service flow is from the top, then it is called as Up flow softener. If the service and regeneration flows are from top to bottom, then it is called as down flow softeners. The softeners are run up to the hardness slip of 5 ppm as CACO3 in the treated water, which is called Industrial Zero
hardness.

Water Hardness	Grains per Gallon	Parts per Million (ppm)
Soft	0 to 3	0 to 60
Moderate	3 to 7	60 to 120
Very Hard	7 to 10	120 to 180

Reverse Osmosis Plant

The Reverse Osmosis process uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate and remove dissolved solids, organics, pyroxene, submicron colloidal matter, viruses, and bacteria from water. The process is called "reverse" osmosis since it requires pressure to force pure water across a membrane, leaving the impurities behind. Reverse Osmosis is capable of removing 95%-99% of the total dissolved solids (TDS) and 99% of all
bacteria, thus providing safe, pure water.

The reverse osmosis separation technology is used to remove dissolved impurities from water through the use of a semi-permeable membrane. The RO process is the reversal of flow through a membrane from a high salinity, or concentrated, solution to the high purity, or permeates, stream on the opposite side of the membrane. Pressure is used as the driving force for the separation. The applied pressure (P) must be in excess of the osmotic pressure of the dissolved contaminants to allow flow across the membrane.