Predictions for the future…

I am not Nostradamas and it is often dangerous to try and predict the future, but here is what I see in the near future for water treatment:

1. Legislation will be passed in states that have specific water problems, that ensures new homes will be “plumbed” so that water treatment will be easily installed in that home. This includes provisions for water softners, reverse osmosis systems and disinfection systems. Many new homes are constructed in such a way that it may be virtually impossible to intercept the main water line and treat the water in various area of the home. This means that a “mechanical room” for plumbing, HVAC and water treatment systems will become the norm in new homes.
2. There is currently no technology available on the consumer level that delivers “soft water” without salt. There are some devices which may or may not offer some benefits, but they do not produce soft water, eliminatre spotting or reduce soap and detergent usage. In short, they are not “water softeners”. The next “great leap” could come whereby water softeners may be regenerated with hot water or or some other element or use some mechanical method to neutralize hardness ions. The initial price of water conditioners will be higher, but without salt, the cost will be much lower.
3. Some custom homes and commercial buildings have three water lines: (1) cold water, (2) hot water and (3) recirculating hot water. In the future, homes and businesses could easily have five water lines. In addition to the first three, there will be (4) “grey” water, for flushing toilets and other uses like outdoor watering, and (5) “life support” water for drinking and cooking. “Grey” water will be water with has been used for bathing and washing and is essentially recycled through filtration and or disinfection processes. The “life support” water is even more important. This will be a central treatment system to provide drinking, cooking and ice-making water throughout the home or business - which brings us to the next issue.
4. Pure water systems will consist of micron filtration, ultra filtration, carbon block filtration, granular activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis and ozonation or ultraviolet (”UV”). A central system will feed multiple faucets.