How does water quality affect selection and dosing of detergents?

Water is an important factor when used for manual and automated instrument processing in healthcare settings. Water used in the cleaning cycle may affect dosing of detergent. As hardness increases beyond 200 ppm, higher levels of calcium and other minerals in water will bind with detergent and reduce ability of detergents to emulsify soils. Detergent dosing may need to be increased for hard water conditions. ProWash is formulated with chelating agents to maintain effective cleaning in hard water conditions.

Hard water also affects rinsing and may contribute to residual hard water stains and spots on instrument surfaces after final rinse if high quality water is not used. Biological quality of water and presence of endotoxin will also impact the cleaning process.