Longitudinal in-situ impedance and resin monitoring sensor, and method of measuring and tracking the movement of hardness in a water softener utilizing the same

A method for measuring and tracking movement of hardness in a water softener, said method comprising:

• introducing hard water from a point of entry into a vessel containing a particle bed of ion exchange material;
• electrically connecting a controller to electrodes;
• situating said electrodes within said vessel such that said electrodes traverse an axial length of said vessel in a longitudinal direction from approximately vessel top to approximately vessel bottom, and extending through said particle bed of ion exchange material;
• measuring impedance, conductivity, and/or resistivity between electrodes using said controller;
• calculating from said impedance, conductivity, and/or resistivity measurements a state of the exhaustion or depletion of said ion exchange material in said vessel;
• initiating a regeneration of said ion exchange material upon determination of exhaustion or depletion of said ion exchange material.