What the City of Forest Lake already does
The city draws water from the Mt. Simon and Quaternary Buried Artesian aquifers using five well pumps. It sends the water to four treatment plants, where it is chlorinated, fluoridated, treated, and softened. The city reports that softened water in the distribution system averages 5.5 to 6.5 grains per gallon.
By the city's own scale, 3.5 to 7 grains per gallon is moderately hard. So city water here is already softened to the moderate range. A home softener could lower it further, but the benefit is smaller than in a home with untreated hard water, and many households on city water do fine without one.
| Level | Grains per gallon |
|---|---|
| Soft | 0 to 3.5 |
| Moderately hard | 3.5 to 7 |
| Hard | 7 to 10.5 |
| Very hard | Above 10.5 |
Manganese and city water
The city also reports manganese results. Some wells showed higher manganese before treatment, and the city treats two of them at a dedicated water plant. The Minnesota Department of Health advises that safe levels are 100 micrograms per liter or less for infants who drink tap water or tap-water formula, and 300 micrograms per liter or less for everyone else.
The city's annual water quality report lists results for the delivered water. If you have concerns about manganese, read the current report before buying a filter, because it shows what is in the water at the tap.
On a private well?
Call and ask about testing first. The right equipment depends on what is actually in the water.
Private wells: test before you buy
Homes outside the city system rely on private wells, and water quality varies from well to well. A water test shows hardness, iron, manganese, bacteria, and nitrates, and the results decide the equipment. A softener treats hardness and some iron. Filters address taste, sediment, and some contaminants. Bacteria need a different fix.
Equipment bought without a test often misses the real problem. If the water is cloudy or tastes metallic, test first. For a plumbing-side tie-in, a softener needs a drain, a power outlet, and a bypass valve.
Softener tends to help when
- Water tests hard on a private well
- You see scale on fixtures and white crust on faucets
- Heater life is a concern
Filtration tends to help when
- Taste, odor, or sediment is the issue
- You want to treat drinking water at one tap
- A test shows a contaminant a filter can reduce
Installing treatment equipment
- A bypass valve so the system can be isolated.
- A drain connection for backwash or regeneration water.
- An electrical outlet nearby for softeners with controls.
- Placement before the water heater, so hot water is treated too.
- Sediment filters upstream of fine filters to extend their life.
If your water heater is old, a softener will not save it, and replacement may be the better spend. A new heater install is covered in water heater installation.
What decides the price of softener and filter work
Equipment choice drives the price more than labor.
Insurance does not cover treatment equipment. Ask your utility or the equipment maker about rebates.
Want your real number? Call and describe the problem. You get a clear price before work starts.
Call (651) 946-0134Owners of single-family homes in subdivisions such as Chestnut Creek draw on the same city supply described here.
Who operates the street valve
According to the City of Forest Lake Water Department, the curb stop at the street is operated by city staff only. Do not count on it to stop water in an emergency, and close the main valve inside your home instead.
Common Questions
Often not. The city softens its water to an average of 5.5 to 6.5 grains per gallon. A softener could lower it further, but many homes do fine without one.
A lab test shows hardness, iron, manganese, bacteria, and nitrates. The results guide the equipment.
The City of Forest Lake publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports on its Water Department page.
Some softeners reduce small amounts, but treatment depends on the form and level. Test first.
Yes. The plumber sets the bypass, drain, and placement after you decide on equipment based on a test.