A number of water treatment solutions are available. They range from whole-house systems that treat all the water in your home, to filters for specific areas such as the kitchen faucet, to more portable solutions such as a water pitcher or even countertop filters. Some reduce only one contaminant while others reduce many.

• Point-of-use (POU) systems treat the water where you drink or use your water, and include water pitchers, faucet filters and reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Reverse osmosis systems are the only NSF certified systems that reduce fluoride and nitrate; and Reverse Osmosis systems are the only ones that are NSF certified to reduce both lead and copper.
• Whole-house/point-of-entry (POE) systems treat the water as it enters a residence. They are usually installed near the water meter (municipal) or pressurized storage tank (well water). Whole-house treatment systems include UV microbiological systems, water softeners or whole-house filters for chlorine, taste, odor and particulates.

There is always need to carry out water softening at home. It can be to improve coffee taste or protect electrical appliances and plumbing. You should choose a water softening system that fits your needs and also depend on the level of water hardness in your area.

However, it is important to note that the body also needs calcium and magnesium ions for healthy metabolism. This makes it unhealthy to always consume soft water.

In some cases, all minerals can be removed from your drinking water through filtration or softening. You can always add a proper amount of minerals using an alkaline cartridge.