Calcium chloride is one of the most versatile of the basic chemicals. It has several common applications such as brine for refrigeration plants, ice and dust control on roads, and in concrete. The anhydrous salt is also widely used as a desiccant, where it will absorb so much water that it will eventually dissolve in its own crystal lattice water (water of hydration). It can be produced directly from limestone, but large amounts are also produced as a by-product of the “Solvay Process” (which is a process to produce soda ash from brine). Calcium chloride is also commonly used as an additive in swimming pool water as it increases the “calcium hardness” value for the water. Other industrial applications include use as an additive in plastics, as a drainage aid for wastewater treatment, as an additive in fire extinguishers, as an additive in control scaffolding in blast furnaces, and as a thinner in “fabric softeners”.