Sustainable Development in the Context of Hard Water Treatment

Abstract

The objective of this paper was determination and measurement of the effect on the environment that application of central softening of water from the Grotowice intake can have. In order to carry out the said analyses, two levels of water softening were considered, i.e. up to hardness at the level of 200 mgCaCO3/L and 250 mgCaCO3/L. For this purpose Grotowice intake collecting water with very high hardness was chosen. Several household appliances which use hot water during their work have been selected for analysis. In addition, the required data were collected and an environmental impact assessment has been prepared (carbon dioxide emissions based on energy consumption of individual appliances, the amount of phosphorus emissions present in used detergents, the amount of waste produced after consumption). As shown by the results of the conducted analyses, limitation of the hardness level of water taken at the Water Treatment Station in Grotowice has a significant effect on reduction of emission of contamination to the environment.