I live in a house that uses a community well that serves dozen of houses. At the well pumphouse, the water is treated with Chlorine and a
30% orthophosphate--70% polyphosphate blend.Our water has heavy levels of calcium, manganese, and iron. Our toilet tanks are black and shower nozzles require regular soaks in CLR to keep a clear spray pattern. I think the hot water heater breaks down the phosphating and circulates iron and calcium to hot water-using spigots and faucets.
Water quality test data at kitchen sink: pH=7, Cl=0.5 ppm, Fe=0.8 ppm, Hardness 11gr/gal, TDS 216 ppm. A different test reported manganese levels of 0.17 and sulfate level of
29.8. I think units are also ppm.I would like a whole-house softener and filter to eliminate iron, manganese, sulfate, and calcium from household water. I plan on an RO unit for the kitchen water.
My question is about softening the phosphate-treated water. Won't the phosphating at the well bind up or sequester the iron/manganese/calcium ions presented to the in-house system? Is there any sort of ion exchange resin or media that will work with the ortho- and poly-phosphated water? How can sodium ion exchange occur if the Fe/Mn/Ca ions are bound up with polyphosphate and orthophosphate?
I don't understand how a water softener system would function or last very long under these circumstances. Am I screwed if I want a water softening system if I have ortho-poly phosphated water at my home POI? I am understandably reluctant to invest thousands in a home system if it will not work over the long run.