On city water? Here's what's worth fixing.
Your water utility tests and treats your water, so it starts out safe. Most problems in city homes are about taste, scale, or your home's own plumbing.
Read your utility's yearly water quality report first. Then match the fix to the problem: a softener for hard water, a carbon filter for chlorine taste, and a certified drinking water filter if your home has lead pipes or lead solder. You rarely need a big whole-house system for safety.
Step 1: Read your water quality report
Every community water system must send customers a yearly Consumer Confidence Report, usually by July 1. It lists what was found in your water and whether anything was over a limit. Look for it on your utility's website, or call and ask for a copy.
The report covers water leaving the treatment plant. It can't tell you what your own pipes add, which is why lead is checked separately (below).
Hard water and scale
Many Pennsylvania utilities in limestone areas, such as the Lehigh Valley and Lancaster County, deliver hard water. Signs: white crust on faucets and shower heads, spotty dishes, and a water heater that wears out early. Your report or utility can tell you the hardness.
Usual fix: a water softener. Look for one certified to NSF/ANSI 44. Read the hard water guide.
Chlorine taste or smell
Utilities add chlorine, or a longer-lasting form called chloramine, to keep water safe on its way to you. It's harmless at these levels, but some people dislike the taste.
Usual fix: a carbon filter. A pitcher or under-sink filter certified to NSF/ANSI 42 handles drinking water. A whole-house carbon filter handles showers too. If your utility uses chloramine, choose a filter rated for chloramine.
Lead from older plumbing
Lead usually comes from a home's own pipes, not the utility. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder, and some older homes have a lead service line from the street. Utilities now keep a list of which service lines are lead, so call yours and ask about your address.
What to do: get a lead test from an accredited lab. Until you know, use a drinking water filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead, and run the cold tap for a minute or two before drinking if the water has been sitting.
Better-tasting drinking water
An under-sink reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) removes most dissolved minerals and many contaminants from one tap. It's popular for drinking and cooking water, and it costs far less than treating the whole house.
- In-home "tests" that turn water a scary color or show a high number on a meter. City water normally contains minerals and chlorine. That alone doesn't mean it's unsafe.
- Expensive whole-house systems sold as necessary for safety. If your utility meets the standards, the right fix is usually smaller.
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