Skip to content Calgary water is usually around 150–200 mg/L, which puts it in the hard to very hard range. At that level, most homes will notice scale buildup on faucets, shower glass, kettles, dishwashers, and water heaters.
The most common signs are white spots on dishes, crusty buildup around taps, soap that does not lather well, dry-feeling skin after showers, and cloudy marks on shower glass. If you see several of these at once, hard water is very likely the cause.
A water softener removes calcium and magnesium, the minerals responsible for hardness. It does not remove chlorine, sediment, bacteria, or dissolved drinking-water contaminants.
A filtration system targets things like chlorine taste, odor, sediment, rust particles, and certain impurities. A softener protects plumbing and appliances from scale, while filtration improves water clarity, smell, and taste.
A reverse osmosis system is mainly used for drinking and cooking water. It reduces dissolved solids, chlorine, unpleasant taste, and many common contaminants, giving you cleaner water from a dedicated faucet.
For whole-home hard water issues, start with a water softener. For drinking water taste and purity, add an RO system. Many Calgary homes benefit from both because they solve different problems.
Most Calgary households refill salt about every 4–8 weeks, depending on household size and water use. A larger family will go through salt faster than a smaller household.
The right size depends on three things: your water hardness, how many people are in the home, and how much water you use daily. A properly sized system should soften your water efficiently without using more salt or water than necessary.
A water softener is usually installed near the main water line, often in a basement, utility room, or mechanical area. RO systems are usually installed under the kitchen sink with a separate drinking water faucet.