An integrated system employing an ion exchange resin regenerated by an acid for producing an acidic softened water source comprising: an inlet for providing a water source; a water treatment reservoir, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir; a water treatment component housed within the water treatment reservoir, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source, and wherein said ion exchange resin is an acid form; an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir; a chamber into which articles are placed for cleaning; a treated water delivery line in fluid communication between the outlet and the chamber; a wash tank, wherein the wash tank is in fluid communication with a dispensing module that dispenses a wash agent into the wash tank; a wash agent delivery line in fluid communication with the wash tank and the chamber; an acid delivery line in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir, wherein an acid regenerant is delivered to the water treatment reservoir for regenerating the ion exchange resin; wherein the treated water source is a softened, acidic, and low total dissolved solids water having a hardness level of less than 34 ppm (2 grains) and a pH less than 6, and further comprising a measuring device for obtaining pH and/or proton concentration and/or total dissolved solids measurements from the water treatment reservoir, the water source and/or the treated water source, and a controller to receive the measurements and trigger an event, wherein the triggered event is selected from the group consisting of regenerating the ion exchange resin, dispensing of detergents, rinse aids and/or other cleaning compositions, varying the detergent consumption needed to wash or rinse a surface, and starting or stopping the generation of treated water. an inlet for providing a water source; a water treatment reservoir, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir; a water treatment component housed within the water treatment reservoir, wherein said water treatment component comprises at least one ion exchange resin capable of generating a treated water source by exchanging protons on said resin for dissolved cations including water hardness ions and total dissolved solids in said water source, and wherein said ion exchange resin is an acid form; an outlet, wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir; a chamber into which articles are placed for cleaning; a treated water delivery line in fluid communication between the outlet and the chamber; a wash tank, wherein the wash tank is in fluid communication with a dispensing module that dispenses a wash agent into the wash tank; a wash agent delivery line in fluid communication with the wash tank and the chamber; an acid delivery line in fluid communication with the water treatment reservoir, wherein an acid regenerant is delivered to the water treatment reservoir for regenerating the ion exchange resin; wherein the treated water source is a softened, acidic, and low total dissolved solids water having a hardness level of less than 34 ppm (2 grains) and a pH less than 6, and further comprising a measuring device for obtaining pH and/or proton concentration and/or total dissolved solids measurements from the water treatment reservoir, the water source and/or the treated water source, and a controller to receive the measurements and trigger an event, wherein the triggered event is selected from the group consisting of regenerating the ion exchange resin, dispensing of detergents, rinse aids and/or other cleaning compositions, varying the detergent consumption needed to wash or rinse a surface, and starting or stopping the generation of treated water.