Cation exchange materials are frequently used in the sodium form to exchange divalent and trivalent ions in the influent water for sodium ions on the resin sites. This process is commonly referred to as softening water since it removes those ions that form a "hard" curd of insoluble salts with the fatty acids used in some soaps and that also precipitate when water is boiled. In such a process, sodium chloride is used as the regenerant to return the cation-exchanging groups to the sodium form.

This test method is intended to simulate the performance of such materials in actual usage. It may be used either to compare the performance of new materials or to compare the performance of a material that has been used with its original performance.

Regenerant concentrations and dosages used herein are typical for the types of materials used in this application. If different concentrations or amounts of regenerant are agreed upon by parties using this test method, this fact should be stated when the results are reported. Similarly, the test water specified is the agreed upon standard. Where other test waters or the water to be treated are used in the test, the analysis of the water in terms of total solids, sodium, calcium, magnesium, other di- or trivalent metals as well as the major anions present should be reported with the test results.