Big stains on negative

So, lately I got chalk on my negatives because our water softener is broken and I decided to get some purified water to develop in so I don't get stains. But what's happening instead is I get lots more stains then I would have with my hard water ..... I really don't know whats wrong. I developed 100 negatives over last two years on the same way and never had an issue...

See the picture. I wash for 10 minutes, then 1 minute photoflo 1-2ml depends on 300-500ml tank size. Then I hang them to dry, wipe of with my fingers (always did this, never an issue) and then I scan / print them. I attached a scan of the problem. It's always happening at the sides of the negatives, never in the middle.

I can wipe it of with a cloth... but it only gets less visible. Cannot wipe it off completely. Seem to have dryed in the neg. What could be the problem?

Some thoughts in random order:

First, since you can wipe the "stain" off, it is likely a deposit of some kind. If you're using purified water, you've probably eliminated hard-water deposits. So, look elsewhere. Old fixer is notorious for leaving deposits. Mix new and filter it. (You don't say how old your fix is; make sure you aren't overusing it).

You really only need distilled water for your final rinse with PhotoFlo. I'd leave the film in for 2-3 minutes if I were worried about hard water deposits.

Water softeners that use salt can leave even more crystal deposits on film than hard water if you don't use a distilled-water final rinse.

Make sure you are rinsing your tank and reels well with hot water after the PhotoFlo rinse. It has a tendency to build up if you don't and could be your problem.

I'd sure wash my film for more than 10 minutes; If you use a hypo-clearing agent you're just on the edge, if not, you're definitely underwashing.

Any chemical that you re-use might have particulates in it. Filter if in doubt.

Hope this helps some,

Doremus

If you say that you've developed and were good films, I think the problem is not water quality.
In general, water quality in an area is not change.
The defects noted is on emulsion or on the support?
When you look you see something defects on emulsion masks extremely bright areas?
To test salts contained in washwater put one drop of water on a glass and see that the dry residue.
Make a solution Photo Flo and put a droplet on a piece of glass to check residue dry.
I see in the picture darker dots in the center left.
Appear faults or so is the picture?

George

sometimes purified water isn't what its claimed to be.
The most important is to do final wash and photoflo in distilled or de-ionised water. After that making dev with distilled or de-ionised water.
And the more water you can shake or wipe of the negatives before drying, the less minerals there will be to deposit on film

Buy a pukka film Squeegee use more photo flow.

Ignore naysayers