Homeowners Shift Focus to Comprehensive Water Solutions
BOX ELDER, United States - February 8, 2026 / SoftPro Water Systems /
Recent consumer studies indicate that 63% of customers who initially opted for hardness-only systems returned within 18 months seeking chemical filtration-propelling the adoption of combination treatment systems in fluoridated communities.
According to monitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control released in January 2025, 72% of community water systems in the U.S. now fluoridate their supply, affecting approximately 198 million Americans each day. This prevalent municipal practice, along with the detection of PFAS in 47 states and the ongoing use of chloramine in urban treatment facilities, has significantly changed how homeowners approach residential water treatment-transitioning from standalone hardness solutions to integrated point-of-entry systems that effectively tackle multiple categories of contaminants at once.
This change in consumer behavior is reflected in purchasing trends: independent water quality retailers have reported that installations of combination softener-filter systems now account for 41% of whole-house treatment sales in 2024, a notable increase from just 19% in 2021. Industry analysts attribute this rapid growth to what they refer to as "partial solution regret"-the costly realization that addressing hard water scaling while neglecting chemical additives results in incomplete protection.
Geographic Trends Align with Chemical Detection Areas
Mapping of PFAS contamination by the Environmental Working Group has revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water that serves over 200 million people. Concentrations in regions such as the Southwest, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic have reached levels that led to EPA advisories in fourteen states. These same areas are witnessing a higher adoption rate of dual-treatment residential systems.
States like Arizona, Nevada, and Texas-where both hardness levels are high and municipal fluoridation efforts are vigorous-recorded a 67% increase in combination water treatment installations from the previous year in 2024. Similarly, Florida's utilities, which heavily utilize chloramine, show comparable adoption trends, especially in suburban areas where homeowners actively research treatment options prior to moving into new developments.
"We're noticing that buyers are beginning to understand that municipal compliance does not guarantee optimal water quality," stated Jeremy Phillips, Sales Manager at SoftPro Water Systems. "A homeowner might receive a city water report indicating 8 grains of hardness with 0.9 ppm fluoride and detectable chloramines-all within EPA allowable limits-but these conditions raise long-term concerns. They are hesitant to invest $2,400 in a softener only to discover six months later that they need an additional $2,800 filter. The numbers clearly support a comprehensive solution from the start."
Engineering Solution: Series Treatment Architecture
SoftPro's response to this demand for thoroughness combines its Elite HE Water Softener with the Fluoride & Chlorine+ SUPER Filter in a sequential configuration. The softener effectively removes calcium and magnesium through high-efficiency ion exchange, utilizing upflow regeneration that decreases salt usage by 30% compared to traditional downflow designs. With capacities ranging from 32,000 to 64,000 grains, it accommodates households of various sizes, and both systems are WQA Gold Seal certified and IAPMO listed to ensure compliance with local codes.
The filtration process follows immediately, employing dual-media technology that merges catalytic carbon and bone char. Laboratory tests certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 42 protocols demonstrate a 99% reduction in fluoride, 98% removal of chlorine, and 95% capture of PFAS over the filter's lifespan of 600,000 to one million gallons-equating to six to ten years of operation for an average four-person household, all without electricity consumption or wastewater discharge.
Both systems share a single drainage connection and require only one 110-volt outlet, allowing for integration with standard one-inch residential plumbing. The installation process is relatively straightforward: knowledgeable DIY homeowners can complete the setup in four to six hours, while professional installers typically take around 90 minutes, including pressure testing and startup calibration.
Dan T., a homeowner from South Carolina who installed the combination system in August 2024, shared his thought process: "Our municipal report indicated everything was 'safe,' but I kept reading about concerns regarding fluoride accumulation and PFAS. I didn't want to be left wondering in five years if I should have done more. Treating everything at the point of entry made logical sense-shower water, laundry, ice makers-everything runs through both systems. I'm not looking back on this decision."
Economic Analysis Supports Comprehensive Deployment
Research from market analysis firm BlueTech Intelligence, published in December 2024, revealed that homeowners who purchase water treatment systems in stages-first addressing hardness and later adding chemical filtration-spend an average of $1,840 more than those who install combination systems from the outset. This additional cost arises from duplicate installation labor, separate warranty management, and the complexities of dealing with two different vendors.
The average monthly operating costs for the SoftPro combination system range from $8 to $12 for salt and routine maintenance in a four-person household, while providing whole-house protection against both hardness and chemical contaminants. The systems come with lifetime limited warranties on tanks and valves, and customer support is provided by professionals with over twelve years of experience in water treatment.
"Avoiding regret is a stronger motivator in this market than fear," commented Craig Phillips, CEO of SoftPro Water Systems. "These are homeowners who conduct thorough research and seek closure on their water quality concerns. They're not looking for excitement-they want assurance that they made the right decision. When you can address hardness, fluoride, chlorine, chloramines, and PFAS in a single point-of-entry installation backed by a lifetime warranty, you're offering peace of mind, not just filtration."
Regulatory Environment Reinforces Dual-Treatment Justification
The evolving stance of the EPA on PFAS regulations-including proposed maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS at four parts per trillion-alongside ongoing scientific discussions regarding optimal fluoride exposure, has heightened homeowner awareness about chemical additives beyond traditional hardness issues. Surveys conducted by the Water Quality Association in late 2024 found that 58% of respondents now view the "removal of government-added chemicals" as equally crucial to hardness treatment when assessing whole-house systems.
This shift in perspective is particularly evident among households with children under twelve, where long-term exposure concerns take precedence over short-term convenience. The demographic primarily consists of suburban homeowners aged 35-54 with household incomes ranging from $75,000 to $150,000-a group that industry analysts have labeled "future-proof purchasers" due to their inclination to invest in comprehensive solutions rather than piecemeal fixes.
NSF International's certification protocols for combined treatment systems now feature testing standards that validate performance across multiple contaminant classes simultaneously, providing third-party verification that integrated designs maintain efficacy without interference between treatment stages. SoftPro's combination setup meets these standards, with catalytic carbon sustaining chloramine reduction effectiveness even when processing softened water, and bone char fluoride capture remaining stable across varying pH levels created by ion exchange processes.
This combined approach also alleviates installation timing issues: homeowners can avoid the disruptions associated with retrofit filtration projects by implementing complete treatment systems during the initial setup, thus eliminating the need for drywall repairs, re-plumbing, and additional drain connections that often accompany add-on installations.
Industry Trends Indicate Movement Towards Point-of-Entry Standardization
Water treatment consultants forecast that point-of-entry combination systems will become the predominant residential installation type by 2027, driven by ongoing PFAS discoveries, continued fluoridation practices, and homeowner recognition that municipal compliance standards ensure safety but do not optimize water quality. Advances in media longevity, regeneration efficiency, and smart monitoring technology continue to enhance the operational simplicity of dual-treatment configurations.
Heather Phillips, Operations Manager at SoftPro Water Systems, highlighted the company's strategic positioning: "Our customers are not looking for a complex project in their basement. They desire reliable, professional-grade treatment that functions without constant oversight. The upflow design of the Elite softener and the SUPER filter's long-lasting media life deliver that simplicity while addressing both visible issues-such as staining and scale-and hidden concerns regarding chemical exposure. It's engineered for individuals who want to make one informed choice and then concentrate on their families, not their filtration system."
The 60-day satisfaction guarantee and direct access to knowledgeable support teams further alleviate purchase concerns, especially for homeowners making their first investment in whole-house treatment. SoftPro's proprietary Water Score system integrates EPA and CDC water quality databases with local utility information to provide tailored treatment recommendations based on specific contamination profiles at the address level, rather than relying on generic regional averages.
As municipal water treatment facilities navigate the challenges of regulatory compliance, aging infrastructure, and emerging contaminants, residential point-of-entry systems increasingly serve as the optimization layer that transforms "safe enough" water into "exactly right" water-a distinction that is vital for homeowners who refuse to accept uncertainty about their family's daily exposure.
About SoftPro Water Systems
For over 30 years, SoftPro Water Systems has been a trusted leader in water treatment solutions in America, serving more than 35,000 customers with innovative products like the HE Elite Water Softener line and alkalizing reverse osmosis systems. With lifetime warranties, expert customer support, and proprietary Water Score technology that leverages EPA and CDC databases, SoftPro continues to revolutionize home water treatment with proven energy savings and exceptional contaminant removal.
Contact: www.softprowatersystems.com
Contact Information:
SoftPro Water Systems
541 Americas way 9104
BOX ELDER, South Dakota 57719
United States
Craig Phillips
18556838488
https://softprowatersystems.com
