Abstract: A water softener apparatus comprises two water softener tanks one of which is always operating, valves controlling the flow of water and a flow-meter, wherein, after a set volume of water has passed through one tank, water is passed through the other tank. The apparatus uses ion-exchange tanks which may be regenerated by brine when not softening hard water. The flow-meter preferably comprises an actuator which moves in a cyclic movement in response to the flow of a set quantity of water and actuates two service valves which send pressured water signals to a drain shuttle valve. The drain shuttle valve then diverts hard water from one tank to another and initiates regeneration of the first tank. A regeneration meter terminates the alternate regeneration of the two tanks. The regeneration meter is positioned in the apparatus of a point where brine for regeneration of the two water softener components is received into the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of actuating a water softening system is provided. The method comprises providing a sensing device containing sensing material in a water treatment tank of the water softening system, the sensing device being positioned at a top of the water treatment tank with a body thereof partially embedded in a resin bed of the water treatment tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed salt block comprising a longitudinally extending elongated body having a vertical longitudinal axis, a top horizontal face, a bottom horizontal face. The block portion has a rectangular cross-section taken in a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal axis, wherein the rectangular cross-section is defined by a major front exterior surface that is a base surface of the block portion, a major rear surface, and a pair of exterior minor surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid treatment system having a sensor comprising a body, the body having a sensing material disposed therein, the sensing material being subject to a change in size in response to a composition of a liquid flowing therethrough; an actuating means disposed within the body and associated with the sensing material; wherein the actuating means is movable between a first position and a second position in response to the change in size of the sensing material to thereby mechanically actuate a switch member, such that when the actuating means is in the first position, flow of an actuating stream of the liquid is allowed by the switch member to thereby hydraulically actuate operation of the liquid treatment system; and when the actuating means is in the second position, flow of the actuating stream of the liquid is prevented by the switch member.

Abstract: Provided is a water softening system not requiring electrical or electronic actuation in which an ion regeneration process of a resin bed contained in a water treatment tank is hydraulically actuated by a sensing device held at a top of the water treatment tank with a body of the sensing device being partially embedded in the resin bed to detect ion depletion of the resin bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed salt block and a liquid treatment apparatus provided therein with at least one such compressed salt block. The liquid treatment apparatus comprises a housing adapted to accommodate at least one liquid treatment tank and at least one compressed salt block. The housing comprises a first space portion for accommodating the at least one liquid treatment tank, and a second space portion for accommodating at least partially the at least one compressed salt block; wherein the at least one compressed salt block comprises an extension portion which extends into a space in the first space portion between an external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank and an inner wall surface of the housing adjacent the external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank to thereby position the at least one compressed salt block within the housing.