Can we use bore water for a washing machine? Well, the answer is ‘Yes.’ But there is a ‘how’ to doing so. Before we get into this, let us first understand what Borewater is and why it is such a questionable choice. To start with, Bore water is a water source that consists of high quantities of mineral solvents. This is the reason why it can cause damage and harm to a washing machine or any electronic appliance, for that matter.
From the sound of it, you might have guessed that this is a kind of well that is dug deep into the ground. However, these are special, as the bore well is a very deep well dug to reach the lowest water levels in the soils or rocks. These are also known as Aquifers. These are features in the deeper levels of the ground that comprise several layers of rocks several feet down below. Here, the water is trapped within the cracks and is under severe pressure. These aquifers take several years or even centuries to develop before being discovered and used for various uses. The water, in such cases, is collected after it has trickled for several years and accumulated into a substantial quantity during the rock formation years.
The technology of bore well is relatively new, as recent as the 1970s, and was eventually introduced in India. UNICEF did this to address the severe water shortage problem in the country.
Is Bore Hole Water Good for Washing Clothes?
Well, we just answered your question. The water from the borewell causes the clothes to wear off, damage, or fade. Not just that, washing clothes in a borewell can also cause the fabrics to wear out or be damaged altogether. While the software is recommended and advised, there are areas, especially in a country like India, where one can only access bore water. Due to the high salt content in the bore water, the clothes tear off, fade or simply get damaged.
As for the washing machines, there are chances when the salts can accumulate in some services or parts of the washing machine and cause irreversible damage to the same. However, the good news is that with the help of a water softener, one can easily clean their clothes when using bore water.
Different Ways To Convert Bore Water To Soft Water
While using the water softener is a great method to convert the hard water from the borewell to soft water, nevertheless, let us take a look at some other methods as well:
1. Use of Vinegar or Baking Soda
These are both natural disinfectants that can be used to convert hard water to soft water. Here, baking soda is alkaline, while Vinegar is Acidic. These work wonderfully to remove the development of scales that occur due to hard water exposure. In order to soften the water, you will need to fill a tub halfway with water and add half a cup of baking soda to get the required results.
As for the Vinegar, it is recommended to use only White Vinegar for softening purposes. This is used to remove the temporary hardness from the water, where one needs to add one tablespoon of Vinegar for every three cups of water.
2. Boiling
This is one of the best, safest, and easiest methods to soften hard water from a borewell. It can be applied in any part of the world with minimum requirements. Here one needs to boil the water for a few hours and then allow it to cool down. This allows the separation of the minerals from the water at the bottom of the utensils.
At this stage, one needs to be careful when you transfer the cooled-down water into another vessel while leaving the mineral sediments at the bottom of the utensils. However, remember that boiling does not treat the hard water off the permanent hardening components.
3. Water Softener
As mentioned earlier, this is one of the most widely used methods when using bore water in washing machines. This can be used for both the kitchen and bathroom taps and is considered one of the most effective methods. In this case, the kitchen faucet or the bathroom tap can be used to connect the hard water softener. Before the final release, the hard water softener will remove the minerals from the water sources. However, this is best used for washing machines and not for drinking purposes, as it simply removes the deposits.
In order to make this water further safer for drinking, one will need to attach another faucet addition.
4. Ion Exchange
This is yet another great way to soften the hard water. Here the minerals like Calcium and Magnesium are replaced with non-hardness cations like Sodium. This is done in a solid interface through which the water is made to flow into, also known as the Matrix. It is here that the Calcium and Magnesium are exchanged with Sodium.
The Ion exchanger comprises a granular material bed, a flow distributor, and another vessel where the water is collected. Greensand, aluminium silicates, synthetic siliceous gels, bentonite clay, sulfonated coal, and synthetic organic resins are examples of exchange media. However, most latest models use artificial organic resins for this purpose.
Can We Use Bore Water For Washing Machine?: The Conclusion
Can borewell water damage the washing machine? Well, we just explained that it very well can cause severe damage to a washing machine. Hence it is important that you treat the bore water before you allow it to pass through into the washing machine to clean your clothes. One can apply the above methods to soften the water and use it in the washing machine.
Nevertheless, introducing the borewell has been a breakthrough, as it has considerable help solve the problem of water shortage in a country like India.