Live steam locomotive must haves?

[funandtrains]

We don't have a mains water supply but we have a bore hole in the garden. The water that is pumped up is filtered, then it goes through a softener and is pumped to the kitchen where it is filtered again.
This is pure spring water with no addatives.
Safe to use?

Probably not, certainly not the softened water, if your kettle as any limescale or other sediment in it don't use the water.

[steam4ian]

We don't have a mains water supply but we have a bore hole in the garden. The water that is pumped up is filtered, then it goes through a softener and is pumped to the kitchen where it is filtered again.
This is pure spring water with no addatives.
Safe to use?

If the water is "softened" it will have chloride ions in it. The Chloride ions have been "exchanged" for Carbonate and Sulphate ions to make calcium and magnesium chloride.

Chloride ions are very conducive to corrosion so will not benefit a boiler.

Best to not use the water.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with carbonate ions if they are combined with sodium or potassium ions which make the carbonates soluble. That is why washing soda is used with hard water to "soften" it.

Regards
Ian

[Joe]

so does a dehumidifier make de ionised or distiled water?

[RuneK]

so does a dehumidifier make de ionised or distiled water?

It draws moisture out of the air. It's more like distilled water, and perfect for live steam engines.