An apparatus and method for softening water are provided. The water softening system comprises a water softener apparatus comprising a tank designed to contain a resin bed and a water softener head coupled to the tank. The water softener head comprises at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a first channel in fluid communication with the first outlet, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first inlet. The water softening system includes at least one inlet water line for hard water and one outlet water line for softened water. A controller is provided and is configured to detect a first operating state of the water softening system, monitor the performance of the water softening system, and send instructions to at least one of the first valve and the second valve to change from a first operational state to a second operational state.

An ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) system that reduces atmospheric CO.sub.2 and mitigates ocean acidification by electrochemically processing feedstock solution (e.g., seawater or brine) to generate an alkalinity product that is then supplied to the ocean. The OAE system includes a base-generating device and a control circuit disposed within a modular system housing deployed near a salt feedstock. The base-generating device (e.g., a bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) system) generates a base substance that is then used to generate the ocean alkalinity product. The control circuit controls the base-generating device such that the alkalinity product is supplied to the ocean only when (1) sufficient low/zero-carbon electricity is available, (2) it is safe to operate the base-generating device, and (3) supplying the alkalinity product will not endanger sea life. Modified BPED systems include features that facilitate autonomous system operations including enhanced maintenance cycle operations and a reduced reliance on external fresh water sources.

A water delivery control system operates to selectively deliver water from a water source to water use devices. The system includes at least one controller that wirelessly communicates messages with a portable user device. The system includes a water control valve and a motor that is operative to selectively move at least one valve element of the valve. A water meter is operative to measure water flow that corresponds to flow through the valve. The controller is operable to cause the valve to enable or prevent flow through the valve responsive at least in part to water flow data. The controller is operative to determine a water use condition responsive to a water usage pattern, and to cause at least one message to be sent to the portable user device responsive to the determined water use condition.

An apparatus for controlling output in a water treatment plant treating water includes: a chemical dosing management part configured to analyze real-time data to determine a control mode of chemical dosing optimization, and provide the determined control mode as a management command; a chemical dosing optimization part configured to analyze the real-time data to derive a control value such that the control value is to set a minimum of a chemical dosage to be dose in the water while a state of treated water of the water treatment plant is maintained in a normal range; and a chemical dosing output control part configured to provide the control value to a water treatment control device for controlling the water treatment plant, according to the control mode of the management command.

A trap apparatus of condensate water according to the present invention comprises: a neutralizing part including an inlet through which condensate water is introduced, an internal space for containing a neutralizing agent for neutralizing the introduced condensate water, and a condensate water passage through which the condensate water that was neutralized by the neutralizing agent in the internal space is discharged; a discharge part including a storage space for storing the condensate water which is directly or indirectly introduced through the condensate water passage, an outlet which is open in a circular shape so as to discharge the stored condensate water, and a spherical ball capable of closing the outlet by being seated on the outlet, wherein the ball is spaced from the outlet by buoyancy of the condensate water when the condensate water is contained in the storage space above a critical water level, such that the condensate water can be discharged through the outlet, and the condensate water can be neutralized simultaneously with discharging of only the condensate water without exhaust gas.

An aqueous feed stream having a first total dissolved solids (TDS) level is flowed to a forward osmosis separator. The aqueous feed stream includes seawater. An aqueous draw stream having a second TDS level is flowed to the forward osmosis separator. The second TDS level is greater than the first TDS level. A disposal stream and an injection fluid stream is produced by the forward osmosis separator by allowing water to pass from the aqueous feed stream to the aqueous draw stream through a membrane of the forward osmosis separator based on a difference between the first TDS level and the seconds TDS level. The injection fluid stream is flowed from the osmosis separator to a subterranean formation.

A closed conduit system for use in a water supply system includes a recirculating unit configured to connect to an isolated section between a first point and a second point of the water supply system. The recirculating unit includes a first filter unit defining a first closed circuit including the isolated section and adapted to perform a first treatment. A second filter unit defines a second closed circuit including the isolated section and is adapted to perform a second treatment. At least one pump is capable of generating a flow of water through the first and the second closed circuit, and a valve selectively controls flow through either the first or the second closed circuit.

A water delivery control system operates to selectively deliver water from a water source to water use devices. The system includes a master controller that wirelessly communicates messages with a plurality of slave controllers. The system includes a valve slave controller associated with a water control valve and a motor that is operative to selectively move at least one valve element of the valve. A water meter is operative to measure water flow that corresponds to flow through the valve. The master controller is operable to cause the valve slave controller to enable or prevent flow through the valve responsive at least in part to water flow data. The controller is operative to determine a water use condition responsive to a water usage pattern, and to cause at least one message to be sent to a portable user device responsive to the determined water use condition. The user interface slave controller is associated with a user interface.

A water softener system includes a brine tank, an ion-exchange resin and a softener control valve fluidly coupling the brine tank and the ion-exchange resin. The softener control valve has an inlet configured to receive a flow of feed-water and an outlet configured to deliver a flow of product water. A flow meter is configured to monitor a flow rate of water to or from the control valve, and a sensor is arranged upstream of the inlet of the softener control valve to measure a fluid property of the flow of feed-water. A controller is configured to calculate an available exchange capacity of the ion-exchange resin using flow rate data from the flow meter and a hardness value of the feed-water, which the controller calculates using a fluid property value from the sensor and a predetermined coefficient. The controller is also configured to initiate a regeneration of the ion-exchange resin using the brine tank and the softener control valve, and to update the predetermined coefficient based at least partially on the calculated available exchange capacity upon initiating the regeneration.

Water purification systems including an inlet chamber, a purification module, a purified water outlet, and an impure water outlet. The inlet chamber is configured to receive an input water stream. The purification module includes a purification chamber configured to divide the input water stream into a purified water stream fluidly coupled to the purified water outlet and an impure water stream fluidly coupled to the impure water outlet. The purification chamber includes a first hydrophilic surface and a second hydrophilic surface spaced from the first hydrophilic surface. The first hydrophilic surface and the second hydrophilic surface cooperate to establish purified zones of substantially pure water and an impure zone of impurity concentrated water from the input water stream. The purified water stream is supplied by substantially pure water from the purified zones and the impure water stream is supplied by the impurity concentrated water from the impure zone.