It caught my eye: The new fashion in Tel Aviv is to add a compact water treatment plant to the houses, to provide filtered and softened water. It is a good idea: Israeli water is hard, contains calcium and magnesium cations from the Mountain Aquifer. In addition, Mekorot adds chloramines to the water, a molecule suspected of causing cancer. I think this is a business opportunity for my water engineering practice, the problem is that I am already over worked. My goal should be to accept less standard badly paying jobs and try to sell my services for more money. But I seem never have the time to raise my head and do it.
UNESCO declaration of Tel Aviv's White City as a World Heritage Site, improved its image and turned buildings slated for preservation into something worth having in the eyes of the rich who want to own a dream house with historic and nostalgic value. They are not bothered by buying a house slated for preservation, because the standards for renovating these houses is dictated by the municipality preservation department. This translates into more paper and more time. A preservation contractor says that preservation adds 20-30% to the cost of construction and renovation.
What are the treats of an urban house? Like in any other community for the super-rich: a swimming pool in the basement or on the roof, a movie room, a $150,000 kitchen, soft water systems, a noise-proof room, and an ornamental garden costing thousands of dollars.
Of course, this luxury here is standard in America. "Rainwater" brand lists soft water's benefits:
Removes calcium & magnesium (the hard water minerals) from the water.
Clothes and towels get brighter and whiter using less detergent.
Washing machine and dishwasher last longer with less mineral scaling.
Sheets and clothes get cleaner, softer and last longer.
Cleaning - supply costs are reduce by 50% to 75%.
No more hard water spots or etching on dishes, glasses and crystal.
Water flow and pressure are improved by less build-up in pipes.
Water heater efficiency is increased by less mineral scaling.
Reduces existing water scale and build-up.
Showers, tub and sink cleaning is easier with less soap scum
Mineral staining and discoloring is eliminated.
Skin feels smoother after showers and baths.
Hair is softer and more manageable.
Creates crystal clear water.
Bottled water expenses are replaced by drinking water filtration.
Drinking water is tastier, as is coffee, tea, juice, ice, and cooking water is better with the home water filter system.
1 comment:
I don't recommend you seek business opportunities in this field. The technology is old and well understood and there are inexpensive ready made units that can be plumbed in to do the job - there is little opportunity for "value added".
Resin Ion exchange softening adds sodium ions to the water which are not good for health. For home use, the wisest course is to have a small undersink reverse osmosis unit that provides water to a separate drinking water tap in the kitchen. There is no need to process water for toilets, showers, etc. The taste of the water can be "polished" with a carbon filter, UV can sanitize it, etc. But again you can buy a whole such package as a unit for not very much.
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