Over 65% of homes across England, Wales, and Ireland suffer from the effects of hard water - where limescale silently builds up in pipes, kettles, boilers, and appliances. This stubborn mineral crust not only reduces heating efficiency but also drives up energy bills, maintenance costs, and carbon footprints - impacting everyone using water from families, to farmers to firefighters.
Traditional treatments rely on chemical softeners, such as sodium chloride (a toxic salt) and ion-exchange systems, which strip minerals from water. While effective, they come at a price:
· Harm to aquatic life from salt-heavy wastewater
· Health concerns from added sodium
· High monthly maintenance and replacement costs
· Strips out minerals beneficial for plants & crops
As concerns over water efficiency, scale buildup, and environmental impact continue to rise, more businesses and households are turning to magnetic water treatment to reduce limescale, lower energy costs, and protect appliances and equipment.
Calcite vs Aragonite: The Battle That Decides Your Limescale Buildup
When we talk about limescale, we’re really talking about calcium carbonate – the mineral that makes hard water hard. But here’s the part most people don’t know: calcium carbonate can form in two different crystal types – and the one that forms makes a huge difference to your home.
The first is calcite – a hard, cloggy crystal that clings to pipes, heating elements, kettles, and showers. It’s what causes stubborn limescale build-up, reduced efficiency, and costly damage over time.
The second is aragonite – chemically identical, but very different in behaviour. It forms as a fine, soft powder that stays suspended in water and flows safely through your system, without sticking or building up a hard residue.
CALCITE (HARD) CRYSTAL
ARAGONITE (SOFT) CRYSTAL
Here’s where it gets clever...
Electromagnetic Forces Alter How Calcium Carbonate Ions Behave.
When water passes through the magnetic field of a magnetic water device, just like the Abimax Magnostream Pro, electromagnetic forces alter how calcium carbonate ions behave. This subtle shift encourages calcium carbonate to crystallise as the softer crystal aragonite instead of calcite. This means less limescale, fewer repairs, and more efficient heating - all without chemicals or salt.
Because when it comes to hard water, it’s not just what’s in it, it’s how it forms that matters.
This isn’t just theory - scientific studies in magnetohydrodynamics (yes, that’s a real field!) have shown that magnetic exposure can change how minerals like calcium carbonate crystallise, without altering the water’s chemical composition. It’s a smart, chemical-free solution to an age-old problem and Abimax’s magnetic water treatment system puts this science to work.
Global Magnetic Water Treatment Device Market Tops $1.5 Billion
Abimax Magnostream Pro
According to Business Research Insights, the global market for magnetic water treatment devices is experiencing rapid growth, with its value projected to reach $2.6 billion by 2033, driven by increasing demand for sustainable and cost-effective solutions across industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and residential water systems. At the forefront of this magnetic water revolution is London-based company Abimax, pioneering the way with innovative, eco-friendly solutions that work with nature, not against it.
Abimax Magnostream Pro
Magnetic treatment is energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and it tackles limescale right at the source - completely eco-friendly. No toxic by-products, no heavy chemical load - just a greener, more cost-effective way to protect your heating systems, irrigation systems, machinery and appliances.
For more details on Abimax water treatment visit website: www.abimax.co.uk
Key Scientific References
Coey, J. M. D., & Cass, S. (2000). Magnetic Water Treatment. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 209(1‑3), 71‑74. DOI: 10.1016/S0304‑8853(99)00648‑4. They tested water (~120 mg Ca/L), passing it through a static magnetic field (≈ 0.1 T, field gradient ≈ 10 T/m). Found that the aragonite/calcite ratio in deposits is significantly increased in the treated samples (vs untreated) with high confidence (99.9%). Notable “memory effect”: the treatment’s effect remained (i.e. more aragonite) even after ~200 hours (≈8‑9 days).
Coey, J. M. D. (2012). Magnetic water treatment – how might it work? Philosophical Magazine, 92(31), 3857‑3865. DOI: 10.1080/14786435.2012.685968 This is more of a theoretical paper exploring possible mechanisms: e.g. prenucleation clusters, magnetic field gradients, and possible ways a magnetic field could influence crystal growth morphology (i.e. how calcite vs aragonite forms).
Kobe, S., Dražić, G., McGuiness, P. J. & Stražišar, J.(J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 2001) — “The influence of the magnetic field on the crystallisation form of calcium carbonate and the testing of a magnetic water‑treatment device” Demonstrates that exposing water to a magnetic field (≈ >500 mT) can shift crystallisation toward aragonite instead of calcite in model and tap water.
Alimi, Fathi — “Influence of Magnetic Field on Calcium Carbonate Precipitation: A Critical Review” (Magnetochemistry, 2024) Recent review summarising multiple studies; points out that magnetic treatment can reduce scale, affect CaCO₃ precipitation forms, though mechanism not fully settled. Good for showing both promise and scientific caution.