The standard downflow softener process is that hard water flows down through the resin bed and when regenerating the brine does the same, this means the top of the bed is regenerated first and some of the hardness travels through the resin and can re attach. In counter current the brine passes down the riser tube and up through the resin bed, the resin at the bottom of the vessel gets regenerated first. The resin at the bottom is in effect super regenerated which means there is less chance of hardness breakthrough which in critical applications is important. For the resin at the top there is a clear escape for the hardness so that doesn't reattach.

In essence a counter current regenerating softener is around 5 to 10 percent more efficient on salt usage and uses less water to regenerate making it a sound ecological and financial choice for those looking to increase their green credentials.