Water Filtration and Softening Systems

9 years ago

My husband and I just purchased a new home in High Springs, FL, and we need to replace the existing (and very old) water softening system. We had the water tested by three different companies. There is definitely sulfur in the water as the smell is almost unbearable. Other than the smell, we have concerns that the water is not potable and even made my husband sick for over a week. Our main goal is to be able to drink and cook with the water. But we also do not want to have to continuously replace plumbing or water heater elements. Here are the results of the water tests:

Home Depot (Source Kitchen Sink)
TDS - 355ppm
Hardness - 25gpg

Plumbing Now (A local plumbing company) (Source Well)
TDS - 763
Iron - 0
Sulphur

Culligan (Source Well)
Alkalinity - 180
TDS - 975
Nitrates - 0
Turbidity - Yes
Iron - <.5>Sulphur - >2ppm
PH - 7
Hardness - 54gbg
Taste & Odor - Yes
Also noticed a film on top of the water and black residue in the tanks of the toilets. Corrosion on all faucets in the house. Stains in sinks and showers. Possible bacteria in the water from the sulphur.

That being said, we have received 3 quotes from 3 companies. (Home Depot would not give a quote as they deal in Rainsoft equipment and their quote would be higher than the one we received directly from a Rainsoft dealer.)

Rainsoft $3600
Would take existing old Rainsoft equipment as a trade-in and replace it with
-EC4
-Oxytech
-Reverse Osmosis system under the kitchen sink.

Instead of using chlorine to treat the water for sulphur, they will use oxygen.

Culligan $6500
-Culligan CulClear System with Reverse Osmosis under the kitchen sink.

Will use chlorine to first treat for sulphur, then remove chlorine using carbon filtration system. Then will use brine system to soften the water. Will not charge to remove the existing system. Also gives us the option to either purchase and replace the salt and chlorine ourselves, or will deliver them and do the maintenance for us at a minimal charge. Offers a 10yr to a lifetime warranty.

Plumbing Now $2850
Will use something similar to our existing unit. Chlorination system with stenner pump and flow switch, carbon filtering, and brine. We will have to replace the chemicals and salt ourselves. Offers a 2 year warranty. Will use Clack dot matrix parts.

If I understand correctly we absolutely need each of these parts to remove the sulphur and hardness from the water. My questions are:

1. Should we go with an aerator system or a chlorination system? We do have concern that there is bacteria in the water.

2. Which of these companies have the best reputation?

3. What is the average life span of each of these systems? (Rainsoft vs. Culligan vs. Clack) We need something long term.

4. What is the average cost for the type of system that we need?

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Comments (3)

jcalhoun
9 years ago
Most water systems use aeration to treat sulfur and hydrogen sulfide. Aeration also works on most iron and manganese issues too. Potassium permanganate can also be added then removed by filtration.

How far away are you from a municipal water system? If you are fairly close it might be less expensive to get a water service.
User
9 years ago
Living on a well is more complicated than living on a municipal water system because youe have to make the water SAFE and then decide whether to make the water nice. Nice water gives you longer service life of plumbing, appliances, and fixtures and costs you less in soap and detergent.

Water tests from companies that are trying to sell you water treatment equipment can be dubious to say the least as you can see from the varied results you've already received.

In order to discuss water treatment intelligently we need the results of tests from a certified independent lab. You want to test for...

hardness, iron (ferrous and ferric), manganese, pH, TDS, chlorine, sodium, and arsenic at minimum. If on a private well you'd add tests for nitrates and bacteria.

With that data and water use info (# of people, # of bathrooms, diameter of plumbing at softener, and SFR of the plumbing) we can recommend correctly sized and configured equipment .
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Priscilla151
9 years ago
We have high sulfur and high ph in well water. We went with Culligan chlorination system. There are two different kinds of sulfur in well water. Ours has sulfur bacteria. A harmless nuisance bacteria. Aeration will not work on sulfur bacteria. It looks like that is what you may have since each company is suggesting equipment that kills bacteria.
You don't mention a retention tank which goes before the carbon filter. Research online from my experience and from each water co. we had come to our house says retention tank is needed.

Sulfur in well water is difficult. Problem is getting the correct dosage. As chlorine ages it deteriorates, our well water the sulfur level changes so getting the correct dosage of chlorine takes work. You use a pool test kit to check the chlorine level before it goes to the carbon filter. We got a backwashing carbon filter. Cartridge carbon filter clog to quickly. Our equipment is 10 years old and we haven't had a problem. Get it right the water taste good and no smell. When the dosage is off you may not notice the smell ( you get immune to it) but those who visit will notice. We get our drinking water from a natural spring nearby that many people from all over come to. However, I will occasionally taste the water just to be sure everything is working good and as long as the dosage is right the water taste good.