In many areas, the water resources contain high levels of hardness, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. While these constituents are not a threat to human health, they can cause many problems in potable water distribution systems as well as in the household itself.

Scale on water boilers, coffee machines and taps, bathtubs that are difficult to clean, cloudy cups of tea before you have added the milk….these are a few of the signs indicating high water hardness.

Similarly, so as to not impact taste, water used for beverages (beer and soft drinks) should not contain high amounts of hardness. Dealkalization by ion exchange is widely practiced in many countries, and is especially common in Germany.