3 Reasons to Consider a Water Softener/Water Conditioner and R.O. System together
If you are considering a Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) system for your home, you may wonder why your professional water treatment specialist is suggesting teaming this with a water softener or water conditioner. Don’t worry; you are not being duped into unnecessarily spending more for no reason. There are some great reasons why this combination works very well together. 
In the past, R.O. technology was used to desalinate ocean water. Today, millions of homeowners enjoy commercial bottled quality drinking water because they have installed a small R.O unit under their kitchen sink.
The combination of an R.O. system and a softener is a smart idea as the softener/conditioner will provide softened water throughout the home as it removes the excess minerals causing hard water while the R.O system provides outstanding drinking water since as it removes most impurities including sulfates, pesticides, cadmium and hydrocarbons.
Long-Term Savings
Water softeners/conditioners offer significant savings in diminished detergent use, prolonged lifespan of appliances and decreased energy costs. An R.O. is much like having your own miniature bottling plant, saving you from buying store bought or delivered bottled water. When the two systems are paired together, these savings only increase. With an R.O. system and water softener, you will be able to enjoy fantastic quality water throughout the house, while drinking about as pure as water can get. The long-term costs of R.O. water is only pennies a gallon. Additionally, since the water tastes great, you may even find that you are buying less sugary drinks and soda. The R.O and softener combo will reduce your household expenses while providing you with an overall higher grade of water for all usages.
A Softener/Conditioner Will pull DOUBLE DUTY and Protect Your R.O. Unit
The membranes in your reverse osmosis system are quite fragile. Although most units are fitted with a small filter to remove sediment and large impurities, generally a reverse osmosis device will struggle to remove the magnesium and calcium particles which are present in hard water. When you install a water softener and an R.O. water treatment system in line, the softener will reduce the level of water hardness, providing a protective barrier for your R.O system. This will keep the system free of debris and extend the membrane lifespan.
High Quality Water
Many consumers who install a domestic water softener or conditioner often choose to install an under sink R.O system in the kitchen. This type of system can be placed to service the kitchen faucet as well as the lines feeding your refrigerator. This means that the R.O. system is not only producing delicious drinking water, but ice cubes as well.
Considerations When Choosing a System
If you have a water softener/conditioner already installed in your home, you will need to choose an R.O. system which is compatible with your existing equipment. Additionally, you will need to check that the R.O. system will not be compromised by the water softener/water conditioner. It is a good idea to speak to a professional water specialist, who can advise you of the limitations of equipment warranties to ensure that both systems are well-matched and will offer optimum performance. A trained technician should be able to also perform onsite tests to determine what contaminants are present in your water supply and advise you of the treatment solution best suited to your needs. If you would like to know more about improving the quality of your water, talk to your local water treatment professional and make sure that they are fully WQA certified.
About The Author, Terry Reeh, EcoWater Systems of Nebraska:
With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state.