a water treatment system for removing hard ions from source water . the water treatment system is of the type that includes a pair of ion - exchange water softener tanks connectable to a source of pressurized water and with a water system to supply softened water to the water system , the tanks each being capable of regeneration by flushing with a regeneration solution to replenish depleted ions . a process for preventing system failure due to salt crystallization includes flowing water during brine replenishment from a second nozzle and a first nozzle at a defined ratio . the first nozzle diluted the brine in a reservoir after regeneration cycle is complete . the second nozzle replenishes brine by flowing water directly onto a salt material .