Do you need a water softener in Edmonton?
Edmonton's water comes from the North Saskatchewan River and is treated by EPCOR. It meets every health standard, but it carries a lot of dissolved calcium and magnesium: roughly 120–185 mg/L, or about 7–11 grains per gallon depending on the season. That's classed as hard.
Hard water isn't a health problem, but it costs you money:
- Scale builds up in hot water tanks and tankless heaters, wasting energy and shortening their life.
- White crust on faucets, shower glass and kettle elements.
- Dishwashers and washing machines work harder and need more detergent.
- Dry skin and stiff laundry.
Read more in our Edmonton hard water guide.
Choosing the right system
Water softener
A salt-based ion-exchange softener removes hardness minerals for the whole house. We size it based on your household's water use and Edmonton's hardness, so it regenerates efficiently without wasting salt and water.
Reverse osmosis (RO)
An under-sink RO system gives you very pure drinking and cooking water at one tap. Many people pair it with a softener.
Carbon filtration
A whole-home or under-sink carbon filter reduces chlorine taste and odour. Good if taste is your main concern.
Installation done right
We install the softener with a bypass valve, a proper air-gapped drain line, and a dedicated outlet, and we leave one cold line unsoftened for the kitchen tap if you prefer. If you're in a St. Albert, Sherwood Park or other non-EPCOR community, we test your water first; hardness varies by municipality.