How often does the water softener need regenerating?

Regeneration frequency depends on your local water hardness and the volume of water your machine uses. As a general guide, the resin bed is typically exhausted after softening around 1,800 litres of water, though this figure will be lower in very hard water areas. Monitoring usage and regenerating with dishwasher salt before the resin is fully exhausted will keep the unit performing effectively.

Is this softener suitable for use with a coffee machine or ice maker?

No. This unit is intended for commercial dishwashers and glasswashers only and should not be used on machines that produce consumable products, including ice machines, coffee machines, or combi ovens. Those applications require water treatment solutions that meet food-safe standards appropriate for direct consumption.

How do I know if my site needs a water softener at all?

Water hardness varies significantly across the UK — areas in the South East, East Anglia, and the Midlands tend to have hard or very hard water, while many parts of Scotland and the North West have naturally softer supplies. If your current machine is scaling up quickly, requiring frequent descaling, or showing reduced wash performance, a softener is usually worth fitting. Your local water supplier can provide a hardness figure if you are unsure.

EWC 16 Litre Manual Water Softener

Name: EWC 16 Litre Manual Water Softener
Brand: EWC
SKU: WS16
Price: 146.40 GBP
Availability: InStock

Product No: WS16

Product Description

The EWC 16 Litre Manual Water Softener is an inline water treatment unit designed to reduce limescale build-up in commercial dishwashers and glasswashers. It works by passing incoming mains water...

Specifications

External depth (mm): 190
External height (mm): 600

Downloads

Product Description

The EWC 16 Litre Manual Water Softener is an inline water treatment unit designed to reduce limescale build-up in commercial dishwashers and glasswashers. It works by passing incoming mains water through a resin bed that exchanges hardness minerals — primarily calcium and magnesium — for sodium ions, delivering softened water to the machine. No electrical connection is required; regeneration is carried out manually using common dishwasher salt.

Hard water is one of the most common causes of premature wear in commercial warewashing equipment. Limescale accumulates on heating elements, spray arms, and internal pipework, reducing efficiency, increasing energy consumption, and shortening machine lifespan. Fitting a water softener upstream of the machine addresses this at source, helping to maintain wash performance and protect the equipment investment over time.

Practical advantages for kitchen operations include:

Reduces limescale on heating elements, helping maintain wash temperatures
Extends service intervals and reduces descaling requirements
Helps protect internal components, reducing maintenance costs over time
No power supply needed — simple to install and operate
Stainless steel construction with flexible hose connection for easy fitting

Installation is straightforward — the unit connects inline on the cold water feed to the machine, and the flexible hose makes positioning easier in tight under-counter spaces. Regeneration is a manual process, so kitchen staff need to monitor usage and carry out salt treatment at appropriate intervals. The unit is sized for a single large dishwasher or glasswasher and is not suitable for machines that produce consumable products, including ice makers, coffee machines, or combi ovens.

This unit is well suited to pubs, cafes, and smaller restaurant operations running a single commercial dishwasher or glasswasher in a hard or medium-hard water area. For sites with multiple machines or very high throughput, a larger or twin-tank softener system is likely to be more appropriate.

If you are unsure whether this unit is the right fit for your water conditions or machine type, we are happy to help you work through the options.

Key Features

16-litre resin capacity softening approximately 1,800 litres between regenerations
Manual regeneration using standard dishwasher salt, no power required
Stainless steel body with pre-fitted flexible hose for easy inline connection
Connects to cold water inlet feed of commercial dishwashers or glasswashers
Suitable for single large commercial dishwasher or glasswasher installations

Operational Benefits

Reduces limescale accumulation, helping heating elements maintain wash temperatures
Lowers descaling frequency, reducing chemical costs and maintenance downtime
Protects internal machine components, supporting longer equipment lifespan
No electrical connection needed, simplifying installation in most kitchen setups
Helps preserve wash quality over time in hard and medium-hard water areas

Specifications

External depth (mm): 190
External height (mm): 600

Downloads

Frequently Asked Questions

: Regeneration frequency depends on your local water hardness and the volume of water your machine uses. As a general guide, the resin bed is typically exhausted after softening around 1,800 litres of water, though this figure will be lower in very hard water areas. Monitoring usage and regenerating with dishwasher salt before the resin is fully exhausted will keep the unit performing effectively.
: No. This unit is intended for commercial dishwashers and glasswashers only and should not be used on machines that produce consumable products, including ice machines, coffee machines, or combi ovens. Those applications require water treatment solutions that meet food-safe standards appropriate for direct consumption.
: Water hardness varies significantly across the UK — areas in the South East, East Anglia, and the Midlands tend to have hard or very hard water, while many parts of Scotland and the North West have naturally softer supplies. If your current machine is scaling up quickly, requiring frequent descaling, or showing reduced wash performance, a softener is usually worth fitting. Your local water supplier can provide a hardness figure if you are unsure.