Pool owner looking for a reverse osmosis system to reduce calcium hardness

[rick32086]

I live in SoCal and calcium hardness is increasingly a big problem. Combination of no rain + increased evaporation from higher heat. And with the drought causing water restrictions, the old drain+refill option may be restricted... or even forbidden.

I'm researching the reverse osmosis option to reduce CH. There's a local company that can do mobile R.O. service for the whole pool to bring my CH down to under 100 ppm, but the minimum charge is $600... and no doubt my pool will need another treatment within a year. $600/year, yikes.

So I'm picturing a small, portable R.O. system that I could hook up to a garden hose so that when I add water I could at least be putting in 0 ppm water instead of 175 ppm water. Shopping on the internet isn't productive, too much clutter. Any recommendations? Tips? Other options to reduce CH?

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

@mknauss uses a RV water softener to add low CH water to his pool.

 

[PoolGate]

Hmm.... Not sure how effective that will be. I have an RO system in my house that can produce a maximum of 75 gallons per day. Not sure you can get a system that would produce water fast enough to use for pool top-offs. What is your current CH level?

 

[mknauss]

Your location is Southern California. Is that Malibu or Banning?

I have a 16000 grain RV water softener. With my 16gpg water, I can get 1000 gallons before needing to be manually recharged.
If you have a place to put the regen water (very salty) near the pool water source, you can use an automated softener that is a lot easier.

I last changed out my water in November 2020. My starting CH is 250 ppm (same as fill water). I am now at 375 ppm. Mainly because I cannot always recharge the softener when it is due as we are gone on long trips. My evaporation rate is about 2 full pool volumes each 16 months or so.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

$600 is a good price for RO in our area.

Check out the thread below. It's lengthy, but covers a few options for achieving softened fill water.

Calcium hardness super high - planning to drain this weekend but will be on-going issue

Hi friends, this is year 2 with my gunnite pool (pebblesheen coating on top). I tested for calcium hardness for the first time in a few months and its pretty darn high (1300) which isn't surprising because the water here in vegas is hard. I'm planning to drain a portion of my pool. Pool math is...

www.troublefreepool.com

If you have a whole-home water softener, best route is to figure out a way to connect to your pool fill line.

Options for portable RV softeners can be found here: Water Softeners - On The Go - Portable Water Softener

I have the "Park Model." My fill water Ch is 125. The softener takes it down to less than 10 ppm. I get about 1,000 gallons (3-4 weeks in late spring) before levels start rising above 50 ppm. That's when I flush. Flushing is a bit of a pain, but it's worth the work.

As Marty mentioned, if you have power and a place to run the effluent (sewer cleanout) close, an automated system is a good choice.

Consider a solar cover. They're a pain to deal with but will mitigate evaporation.

 

[rick32086]

Hmm.... Not sure how effective that will be. I have an RO system in my house that can produce a maximum of 75 gallons per day. Not sure you can get a system that would produce water fast enough to use for pool top-offs. What is your current CH level?

CH = 525
TA=90
Ph = 7.8
CYA = 50
Temp = 76

 

[rick32086]

Your location is Southern California. Is that Malibu or Banning?

I have a 16000 grain RV water softener. With my 16gpg water, I can get 1000 gallons before needing to be manually recharged.
If you have a place to put the regen water (very salty) near the pool water source, you can use an automated softener that is a lot easier.

I last changed out my water in November 2020. My starting CH is 250 ppm (same as fill water). I am now at 375 ppm. Mainly because I cannot always recharge the softener when it is due as we are gone on long trips. My evaporation rate is about 2 full pool volumes each 16 months or so.

Temecula. BTW, what's the make and model of your water softener? Tx

 

[rick32086]

$600 is a good price for RO in our area.

Check out the thread below. It's lengthy, but covers a few options for achieving softened fill water.

Calcium hardness super high - planning to drain this weekend but will be on-going issue

Hi friends, this is year 2 with my gunnite pool (pebblesheen coating on top). I tested for calcium hardness for the first time in a few months and its pretty darn high (1300) which isn't surprising because the water here in vegas is hard. I'm planning to drain a portion of my pool. Pool math is...

www.troublefreepool.com

If you have a whole-home water softener, best route is to figure out a way to connect to your pool fill line.

Options for portable RV softeners can be found here: Water Softeners - On The Go - Portable Water Softener

I have the "Park Model." My fill water Ch is 125. The softener takes it down to less than 10 ppm. I get about 1,000 gallons (3-4 weeks in late spring) before levels start rising above 50 ppm. That's when I flush. Flushing is a bit of a pain, but it's worth the work.

As Marty mentioned, if you have power and a place to run the effluent (sewer cleanout) close, an automated system is a good choice.

Consider a solar cover. They're a pain to deal with but will mitigate evaporation.

Thank you, will study these!

 

[mknauss]

Temecula. BTW, what's the make and model of your water softener? Tx

On the go.

Your evaporation will be far less than mine.

Depending on water source, your fill water CH may be more like Mike's --

 

[SoDel]

Could you periodically set up a pump system to pump pool water through a water softener and return to the pool if CH is the issue? Seems a more direct route. Just a crazy idea — throwing it out there.

 

[rick32086]

Your location is Southern California. Is that Malibu or Banning?

I have a 16000 grain RV water softener. With my 16gpg water, I can get 1000 gallons before needing to be manually recharged.
If you have a place to put the regen water (very salty) near the pool water source, you can use an automated softener that is a lot easier.

I last changed out my water in November 2020. My starting CH is 250 ppm (same as fill water). I am now at 375 ppm. Mainly because I cannot always recharge the softener when it is due as we are gone on long trips. My evaporation rate is about 2 full pool volumes each 16 months or so.

Tx, gonna check that out

 

[rick32086]

Could you periodically set up a pump system to pump pool water through a water softener and return to the pool if CH is the issue? Seems a more direct route. Just a crazy idea — throwing it out there.

Tx yes, will be checking out that option, recommended by a couple of people already

 

[mknauss]

Could you periodically set up a pump system to pump pool water through a water softener and return to the pool if CH is the issue? Seems a more direct route. Just a crazy idea — throwing it out there.

No. Chlorine will destroy the resin beads in the softener.

 

[rick32086]

No. Chlorine will destroy the resin beads in the softener.

Hmm, I see. What about letting the chlorine temporarily drop to zero, like an induced coma?