Check with your city water treatment facility - they may offer water testing, or be able to point you to a lab. If not, state websites will often list certified labs. Or, you can google it.

If your city supplies water, you can obtain a copy of the city water report. Some cities do the bare minimum testing, which may not be adequate for your purposes, but many do very thorough testing. Many even post their reports online.

You want to know:

• pH

• TDS

• hardness

• particulate

• sulfates

• iron

• manganese

In order to properly size a softener you will also need to know:

• Number of people in the home

• number of bathrooms

• Are there any high-flow fixtures, such as a jetted tub or multi-head shower?

• Supply pressure

• Achievable flow rate - measure with a five-gallon bucket and a stopwatch, preferably at an outside spigot fully open.

• Does your water have any odor? What type?

• Any color?

If you haven't already, contact local water treatment pros. There may be some conditions specific to your local water. They will also test water on site and provide recommendations for water treatment.

This post was edited by aliceinwonderland_id on Tue, Nov 12, 13 at 12:13

Thanks for your reply.

Our water is managed by United Water. I already wrote an email to them asking the report. Thanks again.

If the water service has a website that information sometimes be on there.

The consumer confidence report (CCR) has a listing of about 100 things that are tested for anually. This should also have the hardness.