Water treatment is essential for maintaining the lifespan of your home appliances and ensuring water quality. Softened water helps extend the life of dishwashers, coffee makers, washing machines, and water heaters. However, understanding the different types of water treatment systems can be overwhelming. In this blog, we'll break down the differences between a water softener, a reverse osmosis (RO system), and a whole home reverse osmosis system to help you determine the best solution for you home.

What is a Water Softener?

The pH Scale & Water Chemistry

A water softener is your first line of defense against hard water minerals. It reduces calcium and magnesium in the water, but does not remove contaminants like chlorine, bacteria, and heavy metals. 

How it works?

The salt in the brine tank does not soften your water - the magic happens inside the softener itself. Inside, the resin beads perform an ion exchange process. Hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) attach to the resin beads that perform the ion exchange process. Overtime, the resin becomes saturated with minerals and needs to be cleaned. This is where the salt brine comes into play - it rinses the minerals from the resin beads, allowing the softener to continue removing hardness from the water.

Benefits of a Water Softener

• Prevents scale buildup in pipes and appliances extending their lifespan.
• Improves soap lathering while reducing soap scum, helping soaps and detergents work more effectively.
• Reduces wear and tear on water using appliances improving their efficiency and longevity impurities.

Limitations

• Does not remove contaminants such as chlorine, bacteria, or heavy metals.
• Softens water, but does not purify it - it removes hardness minerals, but does not filter out impurities.

What is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) System?

A reverse osmosis system (RO) is a point-of-use water filtration system that provides purified drinking water by removing contaminants a water softener cannot.

How it works?

A RO system consists of multiple filtration stages. The EcoWater Reverse Osmosis System,  for example has three filters:

1. Pre - filter: Removes sediment, chlorine taste, and particulate matter.
2. Membrane: Forces water through a semipermeable membrane, rejecting a high percentage of dissolved solids and flushing them to the drain.
3. Post - filter: A carbon absorption filter that removes residual tastes and odors, polishing the water before it reaches the faucet.

Benefits of a Reverse Osmosis System

• Provides high - quality, purified drinking water comparable to bottled water.
• Removes contaminants such as lead, chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, VOCs, PFAS, and more.
• Ideal for cooking and beverage preparation, producing clear ice and reducing buildup on cookware.

Limitations

• Installed at a single point of use (usually under the sink) and is not a whole-house filtration system.
• Produces wastewater - typically, three gallons of wastewater are produced for every gallon of purified water.
• Does not soften water - it is recommended to use an RO system with a water softener to prevent filter clogging from hard water minerals.

What is a Whole House Reverse Osmosis System?

A Whole House RO system is a large scale reverse osmosis unit designed to purify all the water in your home, ensuring that every faucet, appliance, and fixture receives purified water.

How it work?

A whole house RO system operates similarly to a point of use RO system, but on a much larger scale. However, it requires additional pre-treatment and more extensive maintenance. To function correctly, it is highly recommended to install both a water softener and an iron filter  (well water) or carbon filter  (city water supply) to prevent excessive wear on the RO membrane.

Benefits of a Whole House RO System

• Removes nearly all contaminants for every water source in the home
• Provides purified water for drinking, bathing, and laundry
• Ideal for homes with high total dissolved solids above 2,000

Limitations

• Expensive upfront cost and maintenance  - requires a dedicated space (approximately 300 sqft)
• Requires additional pre-treatment (such as a water softener) to protect the RO membrane.
• Produces significant wastewater, increasing water usage and requiring proper drainage.
• Require plastic piping - purified water can leach metals from standard plumbing.

Which System Should You Choose?

• A water softener is the first step of any home with hard water, preventing scale buildup and extending appliance life.
• A reverse osmosis system is best for households looking for purified drinking water at a single tap.
• A whole house reverse osmosis system is suitable for homes with extremely high TDS levels (2,000 PPM) and those requiring purified water for all uses.

Conclusion

Choosing the right water treatment system depends on your home's water quality and your specific needs. At Douglas Water Conditioning, we provide free in home water testing to asses your water concerns and recommend the best solutions for your health and budget. Contact us today to learn more about our water treatment options and find the perfect system for your home!