How does water hardness affect my cleaning process?
Good and safe food production is all about hygiene and cleaning. But did you know that water quality affects the cleaning process? For example, hard water can cause problems for equipment and cleaning agents. In this article, we discuss the effects of water hardness and give tips on how to tackle and prevent these problems.
Hygienic process areaWater hardness explained
Water hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, in water. Hardness is also sometimes expressed in dH (German hardness). The number of dH shows how much calcium and magnesium are in the water (metal ions). Most drinking water contains calcium, which precipitates as calcium carbonate when heated. This precipitation is also known as lime, scale or boiler scale.
Water with a high concentration of these minerals is considered “hard”, while water with a low concentration is considered “soft”:
| dh 0 – 4 | Soft |
| dH 6 – 8 | Average |
| dH 8 – 12 | Quite hard |
| dH 12 – 18 | Hard |
The average water hardness in Holland varies by region and can range from soft to hard water. In general, most water in Holland is considered moderately hard, with an average water hardness of between 6 and 8 dH.
However, there are also areas where the water is harder or softer. For example, the south of the Netherlands generally has harder water than the north. In some parts of Limburg and Zeeland, for example, water hardness can reach 12 dH or higher, while the water in parts of Groningen and Friesland is often softer, with a water hardness of 4 dH or lower.
The influence of water hardness on cleaning
Water hardness can affect cleaning in several ways.
Limescale
Hard water can leave mineral deposits on surfaces being cleaned, such as limescale. This can affect the appearance of surfaces to be cleaned and make it more difficult to keep them clean.
Reduced cleaning power
Hard water (hardness above 8 dH) can reduce the cleaning power of cleaning products. This is because the minerals in hard water react with the ingredients in the cleaning products, making them less effective. As a result, more cleaning product is needed to achieve the same results.
Accumulation of minerals
Hard water can also have a negative impact on equipment. The minerals in hard water can accumulate in machines and this can lead to blockages, poorer performance and a shorter lifespan. This is especially true for nozzles and heating elements.
How do I know what my water hardness is?
To determine what measures to take to avoid or solve any hard water problems, it is important to know what the water hardness is. There are several ways to do this.
- Request
The water hardness of drinking water can usually be retrieved from your own waterworks or the municipality. Or check www.waterhardheid.nl.
- Self-testing
Measuring kits are available to test water hardness yourself.
- Testing in the laboratory
By taking a sample of drinking water and having it analysed by In2Food in the laboratory, it is possible to assess how hard the water is. A recommendation can then be given immediately.
The ideal water hardness for cleaning
A good water hardness for cleaning depends on the type of cleaning being carried out. Generally, a water hardness between 6 and 8 dH is considered optimal. Moderately hard water then exists and is considered good for cleaning performance.
Soft or average water; what to do?
Is it soft or average water (between 0 and 8 dH)? Then no measures are needed unless there is foaming. In that case, keep a lower dosage of detergent.
Hard water; what to do?
Is the water hard (above 8 dH)? Then use a higher dosage of cleaning product. Choose a detergent with complexing agents such as SynQ Blue CIP Extra or SynQ Blue Foam Extra. Or choose only a detergent to increase complexing, such as SynQ K500 Liquid.
Adjusting water hardness
To adjust water hardness, a water softening plant can be used. The water treatment of such a softening plant removes the minerals from the water before it is used.
What to do about limescale caused by hard water?
When there is hard water and this has caused limescale in appliances, it is important to remove this limescale. This can be done through periodic cleaning with an acid. This can range from daily, once every 14 days or monthly. This depends on the application and specific situation. For a CIP cleaning, SynQ Red CIP and SynQ Red CIP Multi can be used. For an OPC cleaning, the recommendation is to use SynQ Red Foam.
Visualise the water hardness
For the cleaning process to work optimally, it is therefore always important to have a picture of the water hardness. Need an analysis, questions about the optimal dosage or how to improve cleaning effectiveness?
