Water-treatment decisions usually start with a problem — hardness, taste, well-water concerns, or a specific contaminant on a test report. Below are the eight most common problem areas and the treatment options that address each.
Browse the categories you care about, then check your local water quality or browse available solutions when you are ready.
Hard water solutions
If soap will not lather, dishwashers leave spots, or fixtures collect a chalky scale, you are likely dealing with hard water — calcium and magnesium dissolved in your supply.
Treatment options
- Water Softener
Whole-house ion-exchange system that swaps calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) for sodium ions, eliminating scale, soap-scum, and improving lather.
- Ion Exchange (Specialty)
Specialized ion-exchange resins target specific contaminants — anion-exchange for nitrate, perchlorate, or sulfate; cation-exchange for select metals.
- Water Conditioner (Salt-Free)
Salt-free systems (template-assisted crystallization, magnetic, electronic) alter scale-formation behavior without removing hardness ions. Reduces scale visibility but does NOT soften water.
Relevant certifications
- NSF/ANSI 44
- WQA Gold Seal Certification
Drinking water purification
For bottled-water-quality at the tap — removing lead, chlorine taste, dissolved solids, and a wide spectrum of contaminants — point-of-use purification at the kitchen sink is the standard recommendation.
Treatment options
- Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure to remove dissolved solids, lead, arsenic, and a wide spectrum of contaminants. Most often installed under-sink for drinking water.
- Distillation
Boils water and condenses the steam, leaving virtually all dissolved contaminants and most organics behind. Energy-intensive; typically POU for drinking water only.
- Carbon Filter
Activated carbon adsorbs chlorine, taste/odor compounds, many volatile organics, and select health contaminants. Available POE and POU.
Relevant certifications
- NSF/ANSI 58
- NSF/ANSI 53
- NSF/ANSI 62
- NSF/ANSI 401
Whole-house filtration
For chlorine taste, sediment, or aesthetic concerns at every tap — including showerheads, washing machines, and outdoor spigots — whole-house filtration treats water at the main inlet.
Treatment options
- Sediment Filter
Mechanical filtration that captures sand, silt, rust, and particulate matter. Often installed as a pre-filter ahead of other treatment to extend downstream-equipment life.
- Carbon Filter
Activated carbon adsorbs chlorine, taste/odor compounds, many volatile organics, and select health contaminants. Available POE and POU.
- UV Disinfection
Ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts as water flows past a UV lamp. Whole-house disinfection without chemical addition.
Relevant certifications
- NSF/ANSI 42
- NSF/ANSI 53
- NSF/ANSI 244
Well water treatment
Private wells are not regulated by EPA standards and commonly carry iron staining, sulfur odor, sediment, or bacterial concerns. Treatment selection depends on what your test results show.
Treatment options
- Iron Filter
Specialized media (manganese greensand, Birm, Katalox-Light) catalyze iron oxidation and filter the resulting precipitate. Whole-house POE.
- Sulfur Filter
Removes hydrogen-sulfide odor (rotten-egg smell) via aeration + catalytic filtration or chemical oxidation.
- Aeration
Exposes water to air to oxidize iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, and to off-gas volatile compounds. Pre-treatment for downstream filtration.
- Chemical Feed
Doses chlorine, soda ash, or other chemicals into source water to disinfect, adjust pH, or oxidize iron/sulfur for downstream filtration.
- UV Disinfection
Ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts as water flows past a UV lamp. Whole-house disinfection without chemical addition.
Relevant certifications
- NSF/ANSI 55
- WQA Gold Seal Certification
Iron, sulfur, arsenic, and specialty contaminants
When source water shows specific contaminants above EPA limits — arsenic, nitrate, hexavalent chromium, PFAS — the right treatment depends on the contaminant species and concentration. Specialty media or targeted ion-exchange are common approaches.
Treatment options
- Iron Filter
Specialized media (manganese greensand, Birm, Katalox-Light) catalyze iron oxidation and filter the resulting precipitate. Whole-house POE.
- Sulfur Filter
Removes hydrogen-sulfide odor (rotten-egg smell) via aeration + catalytic filtration or chemical oxidation.
- Arsenic Removal
Specialized treatment for arsenic — typically iron-oxide adsorption media, anion exchange, or RO. Treatment choice depends on arsenic species (As III vs As V) and source water chemistry.
- Nitrate Removal
Removes nitrate (typically agricultural runoff in well water) via anion-exchange resin or reverse osmosis.
- Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure to remove dissolved solids, lead, arsenic, and a wide spectrum of contaminants. Most often installed under-sink for drinking water.
Relevant certifications
- NSF/ANSI 53
- NSF/ANSI 58
- NSF/ANSI 473
Consumables and replacement supplies
Filter cartridges, RO membranes, softener salt, and UV bulbs need periodic replacement to maintain certified performance. Replacement cadence depends on system type and water usage.
Treatment options
- Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure to remove dissolved solids, lead, arsenic, and a wide spectrum of contaminants. Most often installed under-sink for drinking water.
- Water Softener
Whole-house ion-exchange system that swaps calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) for sodium ions, eliminating scale, soap-scum, and improving lather.
- Sediment Filter
Mechanical filtration that captures sand, silt, rust, and particulate matter. Often installed as a pre-filter ahead of other treatment to extend downstream-equipment life.
- Carbon Filter
Activated carbon adsorbs chlorine, taste/odor compounds, many volatile organics, and select health contaminants. Available POE and POU.
- UV Disinfection
Ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts as water flows past a UV lamp. Whole-house disinfection without chemical addition.
Service and maintenance
Annual maintenance visits, post-install testing, and emergency service keep your system performing as certified. Service-agreement enrollment locks in scheduled visits and member pricing.
Treatment options
- Not Applicable
Sentinel value for labour-only services, diagnostic kits, and bundles where the treatment family is composed of multiple specific families rather than asserted at the bundle level.
Seasonal preparedness
Cold-climate freeze protection, vacation-mode shutoffs, salt-delivery scheduling, and pre-winter inspections protect equipment from seasonal failure modes.
Treatment options
- Water Softener
Whole-house ion-exchange system that swaps calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) for sodium ions, eliminating scale, soap-scum, and improving lather.
- Reverse Osmosis
Pushes water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure to remove dissolved solids, lead, arsenic, and a wide spectrum of contaminants. Most often installed under-sink for drinking water.
- UV Disinfection
Ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria, viruses, and protozoan cysts as water flows past a UV lamp. Whole-house disinfection without chemical addition.