Water softening apparatus

Abstract

A water softening apparatus and method for reducing odor in, and improving the taste of, problem water, including a pair of treatment tanks and a control valve assembly for determining which tank is on-line, and which tank is off-line, and for controlling the regeneration of the off-line tank. An exhausted tank is taken off-line and partially regenerated by communicating a regeneration solution from a reservoir to the tank and passing the solution through a resin compartment after which the solution is discharged to drain. After a predetermined quantity of regeneration solution is passed through the tank, the resin compartment is slowly rinsed using treated water from the on-line tank. Prior to fully rinsing the off-line tank, the fluid flow is terminated leaving a diluted regeneration solution in the off-line tank thereby keeping the off-line tank in a 'high solids' condition. Just prior to placing the off-line tank, on-line, treated water from the on-line tank is communicated to the off-line tank and passed through the resin compartment at a flow rate higher than the fluid flow rate during the rinsing step such that the off-line tank is fully backwashed prior to being placed on-line. To further inhibit the propagation of taste and odor degrading bacteria, a growth retarding agent is automatically added to the regeneration solution reservoir prior to initiating a regeneration cycle by a pumping arrangement that operates automatically in response to sensing the flow of regeneration solution to the control valve assembly.