They solve different problems
| Softener | Whole-home filter | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Removes calcium and magnesium (hardness) | Reduces chlorine and chloramine, taste and odor |
| Fixes | Scale, spots, soap that won't lather | Pool-like smell and taste at every tap |
| Uses | Salt or potassium, drain, power | Media that is replaced on a schedule |
| Typical Davie fit | Wells, businesses, hard tap water | Homes on utility water |
On Town of Davie water
In 2025, all Town of Davie water came from the System V reverse osmosis plant on the Floridan Aquifer, according to the Town's Water Quality Report. RO strips out most of the minerals that make water hard. What stays in the water on purpose is the disinfectant: chloramines, averaging 3.2 ppm. That is why a chloramine-rated filter is the more common answer on Town water.
On other utilities in Davie
Parts of Davie get water from Sunrise, Cooper City, Hollywood, Broward County, Ferncrest Utilities or Fort Lauderdale water through a bulk agreement. Their hardness and disinfectant levels depend on their own treatment, published in their own reports. The test at your tap settles it.
On a private well
Some western Davie properties rely on wells, which the Town's planning documents describe in areas not served by city water. Well water gets no utility softening or disinfection. If the test shows hardness, iron or sulfur, a softener is often one stage of a well treatment system, combined with other treatment rather than used alone.
A quick way to tell from home
- Soap lathers poorly and white crust builds on faucets: hardness is likely, so ask about a softener.
- Water smells like a pool, especially hot: chloramine, so ask about a filter.
- Orange stains or a rotten-egg smell: iron or sulfur, usually a well issue that needs its own treatment.
These clues help, but a test gives the actual numbers.
When you need both
Some homes do need both: a well with hardness and a drinking water concern, or a utility home where a test shows hardness higher than expected. In those cases the order of the stages matters, and the system is designed as one. Read softener vs. filter: which do you need for the general guide.
https://www.davie-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/24839/2025-Water-Quality-Report
https://www.davie-fl.gov/879/Water-Treatment
https://www.davie-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14528/All-Utilities-with-Emergency-Contact-Numbers
https://www.davie-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3391/Comprehensive-Plan-Part-2---Data-Inventory-and-Analysis-
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist