HARDNESS REDUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

A method of precipitating scale from water includes providing an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a primary cathode chamber including a first electrode therein, a primary anode chamber including a second electrode therein, and a cation exchange membrane separating the primary cathode chamber from the primary anode chamber. A flow of feed water is split into separate input flows to each of the primary cathode chamber and the primary anode chamber. The pH of the water in the primary anode chamber is reduced by electrolysis. The pH of water in the primary cathode chamber is increased by electrolysis, and cations are removed from the water in the primary cathode chamber by forming scale on the first electrode in the primary cathode chamber. Separate treated water output flows, from each of the primary cathode chamber and primary anode chamber, are combined into a combined conditioned water flow.