Twenty years of experience with centralised softening in the Netherlands: Water quality, environmental benefits, and costs

Use of centralized water softening since the year 1970 in the Netherlands provides optimal water quality in order to prevent corrosion and excessive calcium carbonate scaling. Softening is needed to meet the required water quality in approximately 50% of the country's water production capacity. Brabant Water is located in the southern part of The Netherlands and produces during water from groundwater. At four locations, Brabrant Water uses central softening through fluidized bed softeners and at four more locations, central softening plants are under construction. Softening in The Netherlands is mainly undertaken in pallet softeners and is initiated by addition of a base. Nnaofiltration is a membrane filtration technique that is suitable for removing hardness as it completely removes calcium and magnesium. Consumers benefit from having softened water at the tap as their overall costs reduce and their comfort improves, leading to a more sustainable society.