First of all, no conditioning system(s) should be employed (IMO) without first having a professional water analysis performed and you then treat accordingly knowing the result(s). Another analysis needs to be performed to confirm conditioning and on an annual basis thereafter. You have no idea what is in the water no matter the taste and color.
The thing with cartridge filters is that they are sized for a (your) particular water condition. It may only require a cartridge or a specialty tank. As for a sediment filter, I could not do without one on my system. I may have to go to aeration.
Did you read the offered TECH ARTICLE on what comes out of a salt based water softener? Does the backwash truly remove all contaminants?
I am not a professional or sell system(s) but have been fighting filthy water for a few years and have self educated myself on the subject.
I personally would never (except in emergency) drink either municipal or unknown well water.
I did not notice the link to the article in your last post. I just now read it. Thanks for that! More data is always better. There seem to be varying opinions as to how much sodium is actually carried into softened drinking water. Fortunately, my blood pressure is almost dangerously low (so I don't worry about sodium intake), and there are no other contaminates for me to worry about ingesting.
I'm sorry that you are struggling with such water quality issues. Is this a well issue or a municipal water problem? My rural county's water treatment plant has failed EPA certifications more than once, yet they continue to try to force more and more citizens onto their system. (I guess when you have the power to create laws, confiscate property and lock people up, you can have a dangerous product and crappy service yet still survive, huh)?
Conversely, the municipal water system I left in uber-rich Northern Virginia had so much chlorine in it you almost needed a gas mask when taking a shower...absolutely not healthy.
After 4 years of the cost and MAJOR inconvenience of using bottled water for all drinking purposes (and I drink a LOT of water), I finally installed this softener April 2014. I chose this unit because of positive reviews (yeh, I know) and its small footprint (I do not have any place to put a multi-tank unit in my small rambler). I looked at various technologies, but because of my kidney stones (which the hard water had severely aggravated) I needed to
remove the minerals from my water, not merely prevent scaling.
I had a professional test done before installing a softener. It was an in-depth test subsidized by a joint venture between Virginia Cooperative Extension of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & University and my local county. They offer this to help well owners, and to gather water quality data across the state. I then took classes through that university's program to become a "Master Well Owner." Trust me, it sounds fancier than it really is, but 12 hours of intensive learning from professors and industry professionals taught me a lot about various well type construction & maintenance in the various geographies of Virginia (Coastal Plain/Piedmont/Mountain). And I have never been on well water before, so needed the education.
Here are my test results:
Iron (mg/1) 0.039
Manganese (mg/1) 0.05
Hardness (mg/1) 224.9 [this was the only out-of-range item]
Sulfate (mg/1) 49.5
Chloride (mg/1) 15.3
Fluoride (mg/1) 0.23
Total Dissolved Solids (mg/1) 348.5
pH 7.3
Copper (mg/1) 0.005
Sodium (mg/1) 18.2
Nitrate-N (mg/1) 0.1g
Total Coliform Bacteria ABSENT
E. Coli Bacteria ABSENT
When I first moved in I installed the sediment filter to keep the mica out of my plumbing fixtures. I kept the filter in my softener installation because I was concerned about the mica getting into the softener's mesh filter and venturi. Plus I already had it on hand, and cartridges are not that expensive. As soon as I put in a fresh filter and turn the water back on, I immediately see the flakes of mica begin to cling to the filter, it's that concentrated. That's why I have the sediment filter in a clear canister...I can see when I need to change it.
Because I had some residual issues of occasional sulpher smell if I went out of town for a few days (the house had been vacant for 5 years), and because I figured it could not hurt, I installed the charcoal filter. THat was my sole reason. 5 years of me living in the home (and regularly running the water), the residual sulpher issue has gone away. I have read elsewhere that these small charcoal cartridges are essentially "used up" within a day or two. I have no way of measuring that, and change it per manufacturer's recommendation.
You're right about the need to get my water re-tested. I had it tested for coliforms when I first purchased the house and then the high-end test about a year later. It's been 4 years since my last test. Most labs tell you to take the sample from a non-softened/non-filtered source. What's your opinion of that? It almost sounds like two tests are ideal: one test for my source water, and another test for my treated water to see how well the hardness is being treated (although I can tell you that my coffee filter has stayed unscaled for nearly a year now, and my kidney stones went away).