Question:
Ok, first the short version, about 10 years ago we bought a watersoftener/filter, and a reverse osmosis ststem as a package from aditributor. We moved to AK and didn't either so t hey sat in storage.Now we are in a new (built in 1973) house and I hooked both up lastweek, after removing the old sears softener. I took some water samplesinto sears today, and the results show that our water is still VERY hard(although it definately *feels* better than before) but the results showthat the water out of the RO unit is quite soft. RO units should notsoften water. Plus the RO drains constantly, even with the tank valveoff, that sounds like a bad auto shut-off valve...easy enough, but thesoft water thing has me stumped... heres what I've done so far:

filled and drained the RO tank twicechecked incoming water pressure @ 50psichecked tank pressure @ 9psichanged drain from air gap to main drain

The system is a Water Resources International "hydro-quad"softener/filter, and their brand of RO called a "ultra-micronfiltration" system. It was in use for about 2 years before we moved andworked flawlessly. Their nearest distributor is about 50 miles away, soI'd like to save the service call if I can. Any suggestions?

Answer: All ROs remove hardness although there are limits to doing so without theneed for pretreatment; a softener. But then there are many other limits likeiron, manganese, TDS, sulfur etc..

All ROs use water pressure to make product water and the ions of water thatdon't go through the membrane are flushed to drain taking the 'contaminates'removed from the water with it. Saying an RO "wastes water" is like sayingshowering or bathing wastes water. Or is washing veggies or raising beef andthen butchering it to eventually make steak for the grill wasting water? Howabout washing a car? Is that wasting water when the paint will last manydecades without it being "washed" on purpose? For those that say RO wasteswater, drink from the tap or make sure your designer or other bottled waterisn't made with RO... :)

As to the softener not softening.... if the resin dried out which happens ifyou drained the water to lighten the softener to move it and then left itstanding (or worse, laid it done) while air can escape from it, the resin isruined and will need replacing. Or there is resin in the drain line flowcontrol where the drain line go on the back of the control valve and behindthat fitting.