The zero-cost answer
Wellington's 2025 Water Quality Report describes a lime softening plant that reduces hardness, color and alkalinity, blended with membrane-treated water. The village plans to move fully to nanofiltration membranes. Water that is already softened at the plant usually does not need a second softener at home. Jorge measures hardness and tells you plainly if your number does not justify one.
When you do need one: what drives the price
- Hardness and iron from the test, which set capacity and regeneration.
- Water use: household size, horses and barns, or a business's daily volume.
- Valve type: metered regeneration based on actual use.
- Installation: drain, power, bypass, placement.
- Other stages on a well, such as iron and sulfur treatment.
Living Water's ion-exchange plants are configured from the test, so the same model line can be set up very differently for a three-bedroom house on a well and a busy restaurant kitchen. Ask for the settings in writing.
Ongoing costs
- Salt or potassium.
- Water used during regeneration.
- Service visits and resin life.
Ask how the unit will be programmed; a softener that regenerates more than needed uses more salt and water. More in water softener cost in Florida.
Businesses
Living Water installs ion-exchange softening plants for businesses such as restaurants, schools, gyms, laundries and offices. The quote should list capacity, regeneration settings and expected salt use, based on the water and the equipment being protected.
What not to pay for
Do not pay for softening capacity your water does not need. If a quote recommends a large softener for a home on village water without a measured hardness number, ask why. If your real complaint is the smell or taste of the water, you are better off putting that budget toward chloramine filtration. And if you are on a well, make sure iron and sulfur are handled in the right order, or the softener resin may be fouled.
Wells, barns and outbuildings
On larger properties, a softener may serve a barn or guest house on its own well while the main house uses village water. Each supply should be tested on its own. Quotes should be clear about which building each piece of equipment serves.
Questions before you pay
- What hardness did you measure, in what units?
- Why this size?
- How much salt per month?
- Would a filter solve my real complaint instead? See softener vs. filter.
Living Water offers financing through its financing partners; you apply with a credit application, and a co-applicant can apply with you. Call, text or WhatsApp (305) 793-5974.
Updated 2026-10-17 · Living Waters · Jorge Canela, Water Quality Specialist