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Automatic softeners, are used to remove hardness in water treatment. They are used for domestic sewage, treated wastewater or industrial wastewater.

Then explain the basic principles of this system:
Some insoluble compounds have the ability to set alkali ions (these are: Ca, Mg, etc.), changing by sodium ions. Previously they were called zeolicos. When you run water through a bed of cation exchangers such sodium, alkaline earth salts found in the water become sodium salts.

The exchanger bed is becoming less active and effective, when the calcium and magnesium exchanger increases. Therefore, we must perform a "regeneration", which is achieved with the passage of a solution of sodium chloride through the exchange bed. Then the resin generated can regain their activity and the process repeats cyclically.

Ion exchange resins that are used most often are called "synthetic organic resins, such as sulfonated polystyrene or divinylbenzene. These resins, which are used for treating water, are called "cationic strong."

Currently, water softeners are built with Fiber Reinforced Polyester (GRP). They have an inside polyethylene coating, which serves to resist corrosion caused by sodium chloride and also to pressure. Inside is the resin bed.

Control devices are variable, in order to ensure and then check the correct working sequence: softening, anti-washing and regeneration, the final wash, etc.. It can be controlled automatically or manually.

The different stages that make up this water treatment process are:
1. Initially, the water circulates and passes through the resin bed. They lost their calcium ions and magnesium. Replaces them with sodium ions.
2. When the resin becomes saturated, induces the release a stream of water flowing in order to facilitate regeneration of the system.
3. In stage three, the brine is passed slowly through the bed of resins. This is accomplished with a saline solution of calcium and magnesium salts, and resin reloads sodium again.
4. In the final stage, a wash is responsible for eliminating the remaining brine into the bed and leave the device in a position to start a new water treatment cycle.