Filtering Disinfectants Is Different From Treating Hardness
It’s important to understand the distinction between water softening and water filtration.
Municipal water treatment can involve disinfectants such as chlorine or chloramine. Some homeowners choose additional filtration because they dislike the resulting taste or odor.
A water softener isn’t designed to perform the same job as a whole-house filtration system. Softening primarily addresses hardness minerals, while properly configured filtration can target disinfectant-related tastes and odors, as well as other specific concerns.
For homes with multiple treatment goals, the technologies can often be combined.