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The work of the dishwasher is associated with regular heating of water, which is accompanied by the formation of scale. The harder the water, the more difficult it is for the ion exchanger to cope with its softening and the faster the wear of parts. We will find out if the water hardness in Moscow is suitable for a dishwasher.
About the standards of rigidity
Hardness is a cumulative parameter that depends on the amount of salts concentrated in the liquid, mainly calcium and magnesium. There are two types of VL – permanent and temporary. The first is dealt with by bringing it to 100 degrees – the salts are eliminated, settling and forming limescale (scale). This is enough for a man, but not for a machine.
In the Russian Federation, water hardness (hereinafter ZhW) is measured in “degrees of hardness”. In Europe, other units of measurement are used. 1°W = 1 mg-eq/L.
In Russia, the maximum standard level of hardness is 7 mg-eq/l. Europe has stricter regulations.
Life Expectancy in Russia:
- soft – up to 4 mg-eq / l;
- medium – from 4 to 8 mg-eq / l;
- hard – from 8 to 12 mg-eq / l.
There is a free map of Moscow with an indication of the ZhV by districts. In a matter of seconds, you can find out this indicator – just look at the map and find your place of residence on the map.
Water with increased hardness looks and tastes no different from normal water – you can’t distinguish it visually. But there are signs by which a person can guess about the increased concentration of salts:
- dry skin of the hands, dryness and brittle hair;
- limescale on plumbing and electrical appliances.
Due to scale, household appliances often fail, you have to change components and parts, or even completely change it to a new model. The elite technique has a function of automatic determination of hardness, the machine itself calculates how much salt should be added to reduce the concentration of substances. In conventional dishwashers, there is no automatic detection, and the user must independently set the level so that the PMM takes the required amount of salt with each wash.
What is the hardness of tap water in Moscow
Many Muscovites do not suspect what kind of water flows from their taps – hard or soft. The degree of LH in different parts of the capital is not the same – it depends on the quality of work of specific treatment plants. Indicators are not constant and may change over time.
The average indicator of vital fluid in Moscow is 5,5 mg-eq / l. This value, according to the norms of SaNPiN, refers to the middle range. But there are areas in which this figure is much higher (South and South-West) – it reaches 9–10 meq/l. This level is dangerous for household appliances.
ZhV by districts of capitals, degrees of rigidity:
- in the Central – 3,3;
- Northeast – 3,4;
- North — 3,6;
- Southeast – 3,2;
- East – 3;
- South – 3,5;
- Southwestern – 3,4;
- Zelenogradsky – 3,5;
- Western — 3,5;
- Northwestern – 3,1;
- Novomoskovsky – 3,1;
- Troitsky – 3,2.
Who is responsible for the capital’s water?
JSC Mosvodokanal is responsible for the quality characteristics of water in Moscow. Samples are taken here every two weeks if there are less than 10 people in the area. The larger the population, the more often samples are taken. Separate samples are carried out after repairs of water supply networks. Each citizen can make a request to this organization about the characteristics of water.
How to know about water quality?
To obtain reliable and up-to-date information on water parameters at the address, you can go to the Mosvodokanal website. Here you need to enter the “Population” section, and then the “Water quality in Moscow districts” subsection. Here you need to specify your address, in a second the current value will be shown to the user.
Residents of the capital can monitor the state of tap water online. All indicators are unstable and change dynamically, so you can not rely on fixed indicators.
Not all Muscovites can track the parameters of water supply. The service described above is not available to people living outside the Moscow Ring Road. Therefore, they have to find out the degree of ZhV on their own – for example, with the help of stiffness strips. This is a very convenient and quick way to determine – just dip the strip into the test liquid to get an answer.
What do the scores depend on?
Most often, changes in indicators are associated with the time of year. The hardest water flows from taps during the cold season. It is during this period that dishwashers and washing machines are at the greatest risk.
In spring, the water in the water supply is softer – due to melt and rain water entering the general water system. In summer, the level changes depending on the circumstances, but in autumn the water is again soft due to heavy rainfall.
In order to accurately find out the concentration of hardness salts and other impurities in water, it is better to give it to the laboratory for analysis. This is especially important if you have to install a cleaning system in the cottage.
Knowing how soft or hard water flows from the tap, the user can protect his dishwasher from the negative effects of salts. A properly set hardness level will help avoid scale formation and extend the life of parts that come into contact with water, and the entire apparatus as a whole.