A Detailed Guide On Buying The Best Water Softener For City Water

There are two sources of water – city water and groundwater. City water is more common in small towns or large cities as the water supply comes from the local municipality. Rural areas mostly survive on groundwater, although the water comes straight from the ground. Those who use groundwater need to ensure that their water is tested regularly to remove as many contaminants as possible.

On the other hand, public water is supplied by local water companies. These companies get their water supply from surface water, and this surface water is more prone to collecting contaminants due to the increasing levels of pollution. The surface water is water from lakes, rivers, and streams and is completely exposed to the environment.

Moreover, this water may also gather more contaminants as they get drawn into pipes on their way to the city’s water treatment plants.

Unfortunately, city water or the public water supply gets treated for these contaminants with harsh chemicals, chlorine, and chloramine. Hence, the odd taste of the water in cities.

Some of us are used to drinking hard water as long as it is under the hardness limits, which is 120 to 170 mg/L, i.e., seven to 10 grains per gallon. While the calcium and magnesium found in hard water are not considered toxic, it is seen as problematic and a nuisance.

It is a widely acknowledged fact that hard water contains a high mineral content. It is caused by minerals like magnesium, calcium, and other trace amounts of minerals that accumulate during the water cycle. It can happen to well water and can also seep into city water. As the hard minerals continue to dissolve in water, the water becomes harder.

Unfortunately, the hardness levels are not always the same across cities and counties. While hard water is considered safe to drink or wash with, it also tends to become uncomfortable over time.

Some of the expected effects of continued usage of hard water include ugly stains in tubs and sink, white spots in kitchenware, quicker wear and tear of clothing and linen, and higher utility bills because the appliances work harder. Hard water also reduces the lifespan of household appliances. The negative impact of hard water also shows up in dry and lustreless hair and itchy skin.

To counter this effect of city water, urban dwellers have resorted to using water softeners in their homes. They may continue to drink water from the tap because they are used to the taste and use the softened water for all other home needs.

But, over time, it is likely that softened water will replace all their needs, including cooking, drinking, showering, and household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters.

With the increasing popularity of water softeners and the availability of a few systems that improve water quality, it is possible that water softeners will become a part of every urban household.

What are 2 problems hard city water can cause?

It would not be good to assume that only groundwater contains minerals making it hard water. City water also contains hard water minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. What’s more, city water also contains chlorine and chloramine that are used to kill bacteria. Since city water comes from surface water, it also comes with several contaminants gathered from the environment.

Moreover, city water flows through pipes that do not get changed for a long time and may have collected more contaminants such as bacteria over the years.

Unfortunately, these elements also get added to the water when pumped to the city’s water treatment centers.

Therefore, city water supplied to homes have both these problems that can be treated with water softeners as they can help reduce the level of hardness and chemicals in the water. 

Why should you use a water softener with city water?

You may find that the city water is also as hard as well water, and both may need water treatment to make it softer. City water relies on rivers and lakes for its water supply.

While there may be a difference in hardness levels across different regions, with some areas having naturally softened groundwater, the water collected by cities is found to have more hardness minerals.

Therefore, it makes sense to install a water softener if you are using city water in your homes. Since city water may have varying levels of minerals and other trace minerals such as iron, the water may prove uncomfortable to live with.

Over time, all appliances will have scaling, your kitchenware will have spots, the glassware will appear cloudy, and your skin will feel sticky. The household appliances tend to lose efficiency with the limescale buildup, and the plumbing system and pipes also suffer. You will also find that you use more water to remove the soap entirely.

What’s more, you will find that you are using more soaps and shampoos, and detergents because hard water makes lathering a more difficult process. One would think that these reasons are more than enough to recognize the need for a water softener to soften city water.

The next step is how to choose the best water softener for your home needs can be a challenge. We are here to help you with a review of the best water softeners in 2021 to make it easier.  

Which is the best water softener for city water in 2021?

The best water softener for city water in 2021 is the AFWFilters 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener because it is a whole-house water softener that can eliminate hard water that causes limescale buildup, has a high capacity and durability. It uses ion-exchange softeners to remove magnesium and calcium, saving money and extending the life of your household appliances.

Its on-demand control valve ensures that no water is wasted. It also ensures that the regeneration occurs when necessary, saving on salt. This unit comes preloaded with premium quality resin beads that help capture nearly all of the hard minerals.   

Why you should trust us?

Yes, there are several water softener reviews on the available water softeners in the market. However, we can confidently state that you should trust our verdict as it comes from in-depth research into water softeners designed and engineered for city water.

We perform tests diligently and test a number of units in the market over several hours before arriving at our verdict.

We make these recommendations from a knowledge base built with experts on improving water quality. We have shortlisted six of the products here, keeping in mind their softening efficiency, superior performance, and your budget. You will find a product description with its pros and cons so that you may make your choice based on your needs.

6 Best Water Softeners For City Water Reviewed

An extensive guide on how to test city water?

Be it city water or groundwater; we will always wonder if it has impurities that could make their way into our bodies. This concern is increasing as we move into urban dwellings and get our water from the city. We live in times where bottled water is becoming more prevalent because tap water may not be safe enough to drink or use for other household purposes.

Therefore, it makes sense to get our water tested regularly. Knowing if there are contaminants that need to be removed can go a long way to choosing the right water treatment system. But, first, let us understand how the water gets to our homes.

Small towns or larger cities get their water from the public water supply. Paying fees to a public water utility with a water meter in your home is proof that you are getting city water.

Your water supply could be from surface water or groundwater. The source of groundwater is a deep underground well. These wells are called aquifers. It is accessed by drilling a deep well and pumping the water to the surface.

For instance, if you are using a private well, you get the water from an aquifer. 

On the other hand, surface water comes from rivers, lakes, and streams. The public water company draws the surface water by laying pipes to get the water to a particular location. The water is then tested, treated, and pumped out to homes.

Generally, city water is drawn from surface sources. Regardless of the water source, the water must be tested to make sure that it is safe for consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency, also known as the EPA, has regulations about water quality and receives a report annually.

All community water systems are required to send water quality through a consumer confidence report. This report contains the list of contaminants and chemicals that water has after it has been treated.

These reports are informative and detail the total quality in parts per million (ppm), keeping the maximum level of contaminants that can be present as per regulations. 

How do we test the water?

There are a number of ways to test your drinking water. You can either choose to do it yourself or bring in a professional to test it for you. There are simple tests that you can carry out, and there are tests that may be a little more expensive and time-consuming. 

Some of the more popular testing methods are listed here:

1. Send water samples to a reputed lab for testing

It may be impossible to know all the contaminants that may be present. So, you would need to test your water for all possibilities. The smarter way to do this is by sending a sample of the water to a lab that specializes in water testing. The reports from a lab will cover a broader range of elements in the water than what you find with your home testing kit.

The only thing you have to make sure of is that the lab is a reputed one. These labs will also give you clear instructions on how to send water samples.

Typically, this will require you to refrigerate the samples and send them to the lab within 24 hours. Labs may also send their own containers for the water samples. 

2. Hire a professional water testing company

A professional water testing company will send someone to your home to analyze the water. A water inspector will use special equipment to monitor the levels of specific contaminants in your water and let you know whether these are present in dangerous quantities.

If the water inspector does not find any conclusive answers, they may send the water to a lab for further examination.

In any case, getting a professional opinion on your water quality will help you make an informed decision as to the water treatment. You may also find a thorough report helpful when looking for a filtration system.

3. Water testing kits

One of the easier and convenient ways to test your water is using an at-home water testing kit. There are different types of kits. Some of the kits can be used to test the water’s pH levels, and others can be used to test for contaminants such as sulfur, chlorine, dissolved solids, lead, bacteria, etc.

However, it is good to remember that an at-home testing kit may not succeed in giving you the entire range of contaminants in your water. You would need a really advanced test kit to identify the numerous contaminants that are usually found in city water.

The standard kit tests water for anywhere from six to over ten contaminants. Lead and chlorine tend to be the most common contaminants and are easily identified. A standard kit should suffice if that is all there is to find. 

Other testing kits are also designed to look for specific contaminants in your water. For instance, if there is too much sulfur or iron in the water, these kits will tell you how much of such elements are in the water. 

Just like the at-home testing kit, you may still not get an accurate reading of the quality of water. Nevertheless, they are good kits to start with.

Here’s a look at the more common contaminants that you should be testing for:

• Bacteria, as it may be harmful or cause diseases. 
• Iron affects the water by leaving stains on all surfaces and has a peculiar taste.
• Chlorine, in large quantities, can be harmful and also tastes a bit different from pure and softened water.
• Sulfur can be naturally occurring or may be caused by the present bacteria. It leaves a rotten egg taste in the water. 
• Lead, in large amounts, can be toxic and make the water taste metallic. 
• Hard water minerals in water include calcium and magnesium and cause limescale buildups.
• Sediment is usually sand or grit and can reduce the overall quality of water. 

4. Test strips 

Test strips are typically used to determine your water’s contaminant levels. Directions for using these strips may vary from kit to kit, so it is best to read your instructions first before using the test strips.

You can use these test strips to test for water hardness levels, chlorine, pH level, bacteria and conduct a general water analysis.

A testing kit with test strips comes with indications for testing for specific contaminants in the water. 

• Collect a sample of water (as fresh as possible)
• Dip the test strip in the sample.
• Wait for the color to turn a different shade.
• Keep the strip submerged for a few minutes or as instructed in the manual.

The testing kit with these test strips will also have a color chart with a range of colors. Each color indicates a certain quantity of the contaminant in your water. Since we see colors differently, it may not be completely reliable. 

5. Color disks 

Color disks are inexpensive and simple to use. Kits with color disks contain a powder or liquid reagent, a reusable plastic tube, and a viewing box with a plastic color wheel. 

As instructed in the manual, use a certain amount of reagent to the plastic tube.

• Add a sample of your drinking water to the tube containing the reagent. 
• Watch the color change. 
• Leave it for a couple of minutes. 
• Place the tube in the clear viewing box.
• Rotate the wheel until the shade in the wheel matches the color of the sample in the tube.
• Discover the concentration of the contaminant in the water.
• You’ll then add the appropriate amount of reagent to the plastic tube and into the sample of your drinking water.
• The water will slowly change color.

Color disk kits are a little costlier than testing strips but are considered more accurate than the test strips. 

However, there’s still the varied human eyesight to consider. Matching the color shade precisely may be a challenge.

5. Digital instruments 

Digital instruments are more technical and can give you an electronic reading of the contaminants. They are handheld devices and easy to use. 

Of all the at-home testing kits, digital instruments are considered the best as they give a more accurate reading of the water quality in your home. Generally, digital instruments are used in large commercial spaces or at an industrial level.

Although, there are some cheaper versions of these devices that can be used at home.

Some of the common forms of digital testing include colorimeters, photometers, and portable digital meters. They require delicate handling, but it is worth the investment and effort to get an accurate reading. 

You may need to calibrate the digital water tester before using it. A few of these testers also need batteries or a form of electric charge.

Over time, the digital instruments may need new parts to replace the worn-out older ones. 

How do you fix hard city water?

As we have seen, even treated city water contains contaminants that have seeped into it from the pipes and the plumbing system. We have also seen the ways in which we can test the water quality for such contaminants and the amount of each in the water.

Now, we shall see how to fix hardness levels in the city water. You can either soften the water naturally or go for a water softener. Let’s see how to soften the hard city water naturally.

When we talk about softening hard water, we mean the elimination of hardness-causing minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. 

Here, we will discuss a few effective ways of reducing hardness in the water. It will also depend on your decision to treat the water only at certain points or the whole house water softener. 

1. Bottled water 

You can use bottled water instead of tap water for drinking. But, know that bottled water comes in plastic bottles and that only causes harm to the environment.

Moreover, you may not know where the water is coming from before getting bottled.

2. Boiling 

You can boil the water until the salts sink to the bottom of the pan or boiler. It is easier to filter out the deposits by either scoping them out or pouring the clear water into another pot. 

3. Ion-exchange filter

You can install an ion-exchange filter onto the faucet to fix the hard city water in the kitchen faucet.

4. Built-in shower filter

Hard water leaves your skin feeling sticky after a shower and your hair dry and lustreless. Using a showerhead with an in-built filter can remove some of the hardness levels. 

4. Shut off the hot water valve

Hard city water can damage clothes and fade them faster. Shutting off the hot water valve and using only cold water in the washing machine may help.

5. Low drying temperature

Low drying temperature in the dishwasher can lessen the effect of hard water. 

6. Professional cleaning

Regular and scheduled cleaning of the pipes can reduce the mineral buildup from the city’s hard water. 

However, all of the above steps are quick fixes. It will help to understand how the public water supply is treated before reaching your homes. There are four steps to water treatment systems. 

7. Coagulation and Flocculation

One of the first steps in water treatment is adding chemicals that have a positive charge. This positive charge can neutralize the negative charge of all dissolved particles, dirt, etc.

This process allows the particles to bind with the chemicals and become floc, i.e., larger particles. It is much easier to filter the large particles out of the water. 

8. Sedimentation

When the floc settles to the bottom of the water supply, it forms sediment at the bottom. 

9. Filtration

The water passes through several layers of compositions, such as gravel, sand, and charcoal, even as the floc settles to the bottom.

This filtration process helps remove dissolved particles such as parasites, bacteria, dust, chemicals, etc. 

10. Disinfection of the water

Once the water filtration process is completed, a disinfectant such as chlorine or chloramine is added to the water. The disinfectant is strong enough to kill any remaining bacteria and viruses, removing the germ-carrying elements from the water before pumping them into our homes.

Generally, surface water will need more treatment than groundwater as the surface water accumulates more contaminants than an aquifer. 

Salt Based Water Softener Vs. Salt-Free Water Softener

The main purpose of using water softeners is to remove hard minerals from the water. This is accomplished through an ion exchange system by using a polymer resin bed. The resin bed has sodium particles that get exchanged for hard minerals.

You can perform a water test before and after the water softening process and expect the water test result to go from 10 grains/ gallon to 0 grains/ gallon, irrespective of the type of water softener.

Salt-based water softeners

The salt-based water softener machines use an electronic metered valve above the resin tank. This ensures that the water is measured by the gallon and runs a cleaning cycle when the resin bed has become saturated by hard minerals. This electronic valve starts a series of back flushes to push the harness particulates that have been trapped from the system and flushes them into the drain.

The sodium is replenished whenever necessary for the cycle to repeat the process. Essentially, the hardness minerals are removed from the water.

Salt-free water softeners

In salt-free systems, the hardness minerals are retained in the water. However, their form gets changed, so they do not attach themselves to the surface. This is why salt-free water softeners are considered more as salt-free water conditioners.

The water gets processed through catalytic media through a Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) process.

In this way, the hardness minerals get converted to a harness crystal that is incapable of binding to surfaces. There is no electronic valve in a salt-free water softener as there is no need to purge the minerals.

The Verdict

After reviewing various water softeners available in the market, our verdict is AFWFilters 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener. This is a salt-based water softener with an on-demand meter, ensuring a huge salt and water saving. It is also quite popular as it is budget-friendly, compact, and serves a family of four members very well. 

Conclusion

Water softeners have become increasingly popular in recent times because of the different contaminants found in our water. Whether these contaminants come from the source or through the pipes and the plumbing system as it reaches our homes, treating the water and making it safe is imperative.

While quite a few people continue to use water as it comes through their taps from the public water supply, many others prefer to treat the water further to remove the remaining hardness minerals and reduce the effect of the disinfectants used.

Many city dwellers who use water from the public water supply find that they would rather use water softeners than go for bottled water and increase the environmental threat.

By using a good water softening system in their homes, they also ensure that there is an uninterrupted supply of softened water that can be used for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing.