so much to learn!

Who would have thought that softening water would lead to trouble. We all remember studying that soft water would help soap lather well. The latest device for purification of water is the reverse osmosis process. So in the hope that one would appear well informed, one insisted on having a RO machine installed. It was wonderful- as Hemamalini insists " wonly" RO gives water a sweet taste!
Which was great while it lasted. Then the Delhi government decided to give out largesse in the form of a water treatment plant at Sonia Vihar. After a long leave of absence when I descended on the capital the water in the machine looked and tasted odd. Bitter better describes it.The prescribed cleaning out was performed, water was drained, the machine was cleaned , to no effect.
The mechanic was summoned and could find nothing wrong with the working. Which was when I insisted he drink a glass of the water- he hastily dumped the glass after a tiny sip. A hardness testing meter was brought and the hardness levels were despairingly low, which I would have thought was great news for soap using individuals- not so for the RO machines. Lowered hardness drastically cut down on their efficiency- so all of you out there- before you decide to go hi-tech, get the hardness meter to check how effective it will prove.Or settle for the good old boil and boil and boil and filter method.