Ameli0rate
New Member
I live in San Antonio and have hard water. The nice, new water softener does a great job, HOWEVER, the water still tastes a bit chalky to me.
I like the "baseline" taste of the Costco bottled water[*], so I decided to pick up a Brita filter. The water still tastes chalky out of that (same as out of the tap), so I'm guessing whatever I taste is NOT due to chlorine/mercury/cadmium/copper or zinc, as Brita claims their filter takes care of that. Adding a few drops of lemon juice seems to cut down on the chalkiness, but maybe that's just my tastebuds being fooled?
I was thinking about an RO filter under the sink and use the useless soap dispenser hole for a filtered/RO water tap. Given that RO wastes a lot of water during its process, I'd like to know if I just need a different filter than the carbon one in the Brita and how I can confirm what filter I need for good/neutral tasting water?
I see Costco selling a Brondell 3-stage filter system ($100) and an Aquverse RO system ($180). No need for RO and wasting water if a regular filter can fix me up.
1, What would be a good start to look at for filters?
2, Might I need RO?
2.5, and if I do, do I need a mineral adder-inner after that for flavor?
3, Any brands of under-sink filtration systems that are good - or brands that should be avoided?
[*]Costco's bottles say "Bottled by Niagara" and they have a few plants nearby (San Antonio, Houston, Temple and Dallas) so I THINK it might be relatively local water. They claim RO/Ozone and filtration, then adding back in some potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium citrate, sodium chloride and magnesium oxide.
I don't need my water to be a clone of this, I just add that for info as to what water I like the flavor of.
I like the "baseline" taste of the Costco bottled water[*], so I decided to pick up a Brita filter. The water still tastes chalky out of that (same as out of the tap), so I'm guessing whatever I taste is NOT due to chlorine/mercury/cadmium/copper or zinc, as Brita claims their filter takes care of that. Adding a few drops of lemon juice seems to cut down on the chalkiness, but maybe that's just my tastebuds being fooled?
I was thinking about an RO filter under the sink and use the useless soap dispenser hole for a filtered/RO water tap. Given that RO wastes a lot of water during its process, I'd like to know if I just need a different filter than the carbon one in the Brita and how I can confirm what filter I need for good/neutral tasting water?
I see Costco selling a Brondell 3-stage filter system ($100) and an Aquverse RO system ($180). No need for RO and wasting water if a regular filter can fix me up.
1, What would be a good start to look at for filters?
2, Might I need RO?
2.5, and if I do, do I need a mineral adder-inner after that for flavor?
3, Any brands of under-sink filtration systems that are good - or brands that should be avoided?
[*]Costco's bottles say "Bottled by Niagara" and they have a few plants nearby (San Antonio, Houston, Temple and Dallas) so I THINK it might be relatively local water. They claim RO/Ozone and filtration, then adding back in some potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium citrate, sodium chloride and magnesium oxide.
I don't need my water to be a clone of this, I just add that for info as to what water I like the flavor of.