Water Softeners & Whole-Home Filtration

Water Quality Services in Des Moines and Urbandale, IA

 

72 Degrees installs and services water softeners, whole-home filtration systems, and reverse osmosis drinking water systems for residential properties throughout Urbandale, Ankeny, Des Moines, Johnston, Grimes, Clive, and the surrounding Polk County metro.

 

Water quality in the Des Moines area is shaped primarily by the source: Des Moines Water Works treats surface water drawn from the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The treatment process meets safe drinking water standards, but the supply reaches homes at approximately 157 ppm (9 grains per gallon), which is classified as hard to very hard. The treatment process also introduces chlorine and chloramine as disinfectants, which affect taste and odor at the tap.

 

Call (515) 965-7272 to schedule a water quality consultation or system installation.

 

Understanding Your Water in Des Moines

 

Des Moines Water Works supplies treated surface water to most of the metro, including Urbandale, Ankeny, Johnston, and Clive. For municipal customers, the primary issues are hardness, chlorine and chloramine taste and odor, and seasonal variation in source water quality from the Des Moines and Raccoon River watersheds.

 

For private well customers in rural Polk County and surrounding agricultural areas, additional concerns include:

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• Nitrates: Central Iowa's intensive agricultural land use elevates nitrate levels in many groundwater sources. Nitrate is a health concern for infants and pregnant women above 10 mg/L and is not removed by standard softening; reverse osmosis or distillation is required.

• Iron and manganese: common in Central Iowa well water, these minerals cause staining and odor that a softener alone may not fully address.

• Bacteria: private wells require periodic testing; UV disinfection is the most reliable treatment option for confirmed bacterial contamination.

 

We assess your supply source and recommend treatment based on what your water actually contains, not a standard package.

 

Water Softener Installation and Service

 

A water softener uses an ion exchange process to remove calcium and magnesium from the supply. Hard water passes through a resin bed charged with sodium ions; the calcium and magnesium exchange with the sodium and are held in the resin while softened water flows through to the home. The resin regenerates periodically with a salt brine solution.

 

The practical benefits for Des Moines-area homes at 9 grains per gallon are measurable:

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• Reduced mineral scale inside supply pipes, water heaters, and appliances

• Extended water heater life — particularly significant at this hardness level. See our water heater services page for detail on how hardness affects tank and tankless systems.

• Improved lathering and reduced soap and detergent usage

• Elimination of hard water staining on fixtures, glassware, and tub and shower surfaces

• Reduced scale buildup in dishwashers and washing machines

 

We assess household size, water usage, and existing pipe condition before recommending a system. Softener capacity is rated in grains, typically 30,000 to 64,000 grains for residential installations. A correctly sized softener regenerates only as needed, which conserves both salt and water.

 

We also service existing softeners: resin bed replacement, brine tank cleaning, valve repair, and salt bridge removal.

 

Whole-Home Water Filtration

 

Whole-home filtration (point-of-entry filtration) treats all water entering the home, covering every tap and water-using appliance rather than just a single point of use. Common applications in the Des Moines market:

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• Carbon filtration: removes chlorine, chloramine, and volatile organic compounds, addressing the taste and odor characteristics of Des Moines municipal water

• Iron filtration: addresses iron and manganese in well water or in supply with elevated mineral content beyond standard hardness

• Sediment filtration: removes particulate matter, typically installed as a pre-filter ahead of a softener or RO system

 

Whole-home systems are frequently paired with a water softener: the softener handles hardness and the filtration system addresses taste, odor, or specific contaminants. The combination is the most comprehensive approach for Des Moines households on municipal supply who want both soft and clean water throughout the home.

 

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems

 

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems produce purified drinking water at a dedicated kitchen tap. They push water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks dissolved solids, heavy metals, nitrates, PFAS compounds, and most other contaminants. A standard 5-stage system removes 95 to 99 percent of dissolved solids.

 

RO is the appropriate solution for households wanting high-purity drinking water, for well water customers dealing with nitrate contamination from Polk County agricultural runoff, or for homes where municipal supply taste and odor are not fully resolved by carbon filtration. The system stores purified water in a small under-sink tank and dispenses it through a separate tap. Filters require annual replacement; the membrane typically lasts 3 to 5 years.

 

How Water Quality Affects Your Plumbing and Appliances

 

Addressing water quality is not solely a comfort issue. At 157 ppm, Des Moines water deposits scale inside supply pipes, on water heater heating elements, inside dishwashers and washing machines, and on showerheads and fixture aerators. A water softener installed early in a home's life prevents the gradual flow restriction and appliance degradation that accumulate over 15 to 20 years of hard water exposure. The pipe repair and appliance replacement it prevents typically exceeds the cost of the softener by a meaningful margin over that period.

 

For homes where supply line corrosion is already visible, see our leak detection and pipe repair page for assessment options.

 

Schedule Water Quality Service in Des Moines and Urbandale

 

Call (515) 965-7272 to schedule a water quality consultation or system installation. Available 24/7.

 

3074 104th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322

 

Schedule Online   |   Financing Options   |   Plumbing Services

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How hard is the water in Des Moines?

 

Des Moines Water Works supplies water at approximately 157 ppm (9 grains per gallon), which is classified as hard to very hard. This is above the 120 ppm threshold at which scale buildup becomes a meaningful maintenance issue for plumbing systems and appliances.

 

Do I need a water softener if I'm on city water in Urbandale or Ankeny?

 

You do not need one in the sense that Des Moines municipal water meets regulatory standards and is safe to use. But at 9 grains per gallon, scale accumulation in supply pipes, water heaters, and appliances is real and measurable over time. Whether a softener makes financial sense for your household depends on how long you plan to stay and how much you value appliance protection and the comfort benefits. See our water heater services page for how hardness affects tank and tankless lifespan specifically.

 

What is the difference between a water softener and a water filter?

 

A water softener specifically removes calcium and magnesium hardness minerals through ion exchange. A water filter removes a broader range of contaminants depending on the filter type: carbon filters remove chlorine and odor compounds; RO membranes remove dissolved solids, nitrates, and heavy metals. Many households use both: a softener for the whole-home hardness problem and an RO system for drinking water.

 

Is softened water safe to drink?

 

Yes. Softened water contains a small amount of sodium in exchange for the calcium and magnesium removed. For most households this is nutritionally insignificant. Individuals on sodium-restricted diets may prefer a dedicated RO tap for drinking water, which removes the added sodium along with other dissolved solids.

 

Does a water softener help my water heater last longer?

 

Yes, meaningfully. At 9 grains per gallon, unsoftened water deposits scale on the base of tank water heaters and inside tankless heat exchangers at a rate that accelerates sediment buildup and reduces efficiency. Softened water slows this process significantly and reduces the frequency of descaling required for tankless units. See our water heater services page.

 

Do you handle well water treatment in rural Polk County?

 

Yes. We assess well water conditions and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include softening, iron filtration, reverse osmosis for nitrate, and UV disinfection for bacterial contamination. Well water chemistry in Polk County's agricultural fringe areas varies considerably, and we recommend testing before specifying a system.

 

How long does a water softener installation take?

 

Most residential water softener installations are completed in 2 to 4 hours. The softener connects to the main supply line, typically in the basement or utility room, before the water reaches the water heater and distribution lines.

 

Does 72 Degrees offer financing for water treatment systems?

 

Yes. Financing is available for qualified system installations. See our financing page or ask at the time of your consultation.