Specifications
10 Culligan Medallist Series
®
What Is Hard Water?
Water is said to be hard when it carries too high a concentration of calcium and magnesium. Acceptable water hardness levels will
vary depending on the application.
How Does It Work?
The components of dissolved minerals are called ions. They carry either a positive or negative charge. Hardness ions of minerals
dissolved in water carry a positive charge. These positively charged ions (cations) are attracted to a synthetic softening material
called ion exchange resin.
The heart of the softening system, therefore, is a deep bed of resin which draws calcium and magnesium ions, as well as ferrous
iron, from the water as it passes through the resin bed.
Can The Resin Draw Out Hardness Ions Indefinitely?
No. During normal operation, the resin becomes saturated with positive ions and functions less efciently. When hardness leakage
occurs, the resin should be regenerated to restore its efciency.
How Do You Regenerate Resin?
You regenerate a resin bed by removing the mineral ions through a process called “ion exchange”. This regeneration process
occurs in four steps and takes approximately 50 to 70 minutes. Each of the following steps are graphically depicted on pages 11-15.
1. Backwash
During the backwash step, raw water ows rapidly upward (in reverse direction to the service ow) through the resin bed
to expand the bed and ush out accumulated dirt, sediment and other sources of turbidity.
2. Brine Draw
The brine solution consisting of water and salt is drawn from a brine storage tank and allowed to ow slowly down through
the resin bed. The brine solution removes the calcium and magnesium ions from the resin.
3. Slow Rinse
Brine draw is then followed by a raw water slow rinse. This rinse step will slowly remove most of the remaining brine,
exchanged calcium and magnesium ions from the resin.
4. Fast Rinse
Slow rinse is followed by a raw water ush, a very rapid down ow of raw water which removes the last traces of brine,
and settles the resin bed.
How Often Must You Regenerate?
Frequency must be determined for each installation based on the amount of water usage, its degree of hardness and the amount
of resin through which it ows. In some cases it is necessary to utilize a resin cleaner when the raw water contains iron. Contact
your local Culligan dealer for more information.
How Do You Control The Regeneration Process?
The regeneration process for the water softener is controlled automatically either on a predetermined time, or volume through the
use of the Culligan Accusoft controller with ow sensor. The regeneration process can also be initiated manually by the operator as
required.