Frequently Asked
Questions

Yes, significantly. Northern Nevada has some of the hardest water in the United States. Reno city water measures around 180 mg/L (roughly 10.5 grains per gallon), while Dayton and Lyon County can reach 350 mg/L or more. For context, water above 120 mg/L is considered "very hard." Hard water causes scale buildup on fixtures and appliances, reduces soap efficiency, shortens the life of water heaters, and can dry out skin and hair.

Reno tap water meets all EPA legal standards, but 16 contaminants exceed EWG (Environmental Working Group) health guidelines. These include arsenic (6.8 ppb), nitrates, haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes, hexavalent chromium, uranium, bromodichloromethane, chloroform, and other chlorine disinfection byproducts. Legal compliance means the water won't make you immediately sick. It doesn't mean the water is as clean as it could be for long-term health.

Reno city water is treated with chlorine or chloramine by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority to kill bacteria during distribution. While effective for safety, chlorine creates disinfection byproducts (DBPs) when it reacts with organic matter in the water. These DBPs (including trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) are the compounds that exceed EWG health guidelines. A whole-house carbon filter or our Sierra Spring VII conditioner removes chlorine and chloramine at the point of entry.

Reno water is legally safe: it meets all EPA maximum contaminant levels. However, legal compliance is not the same as optimal health. The EWG's health guidelines are stricter than EPA legal limits, and Reno water exceeds 16 of them. Whether it's "safe enough" depends on your personal standards, how long you've been drinking it, and whether you have vulnerable household members (infants, pregnant women, elderly, immunocompromised). A free water test gives you specific numbers so you can make an informed decision.

White spots are calcium and magnesium deposits: the minerals that make water "hard." When hard water evaporates on dishes, glass, or fixtures, these minerals are left behind as white scale. The harder your water, the more pronounced the spotting. A water softener removes these minerals through ion exchange, eliminating spots entirely. Once you have soft water, dishes and shower glass stay clean with significantly less effort.

That odor is hydrogen sulfide: a gas produced by sulfur-reducing bacteria in your well or by the water itself reacting with rock formations. It's extremely common in Northern Nevada well water, especially in Dayton, Palomino Valley, and Spanish Springs. It's unpleasant but usually not a health hazard at typical levels. Our Iron Odor Eater system and the Evolve Aircat both eliminate hydrogen sulfide without chemicals. The fix is permanent once the right system is installed.

Blue-green staining is caused by acidic water (low pH) corroding your copper pipes. Acidic water dissolves copper as it flows through your plumbing, then deposits it on surfaces when the water evaporates. This is both a cosmetic issue and a health concern: you're ingesting dissolved copper every time you drink the water. It also causes pinhole leaks in copper pipes over time. A pH neutralizer system corrects the water's acidity and stops the problem at the source.

Private well water in Nevada is not regulated or tested by any government agency. That means it's entirely your responsibility to ensure its safety. The Desert Research Institute found that nearly 1 in 4 Northern Nevada private wells exceed the EPA's arsenic safety limit. Iron, manganese, bacteria, nitrates, and uranium are also common in regional wells. We recommend testing your well water annually, or immediately if you notice any changes in taste, odor, color, or if you're moving into a new home with a well.

At minimum, once per year. Well water quality can change due to seasonal fluctuations, nearby construction, drought, flooding, agricultural activity, and natural geological changes. You should also test immediately after: moving into a new home, nearby flooding or earthquake activity, changes in taste/odor/color, if an infant joins the household, or if a neighbor reports a water issue. Our free water test is comprehensive and includes 12+ parameters.

Orange and rust-colored stains are caused by iron in your well water. When iron-rich water contacts air, the iron oxidizes (rusts) and deposits on surfaces. Northern Nevada wells commonly contain both dissolved iron (invisible in water) and particulate iron (rust flakes). Different iron types require different solutions: dissolved iron responds to softeners and iron filters, while colloidal iron requires the Ultra Pro's 0.02 micron nano-filtration. A free water test identifies your specific iron type.

Yes, at high rates. Nevada has the highest naturally occurring arsenic levels in the continental United States due to volcanic geology. The Desert Research Institute found that nearly 25% of Northern Nevada private wells exceed the EPA's 10 ppb limit, with some wells testing at levels nearly 80 times the national safety limit. Arsenic is colorless, tasteless, and odorless: the only way to detect it is through testing. It's a known carcinogen that bioaccumulates in the body over time.

Technically yes, but we don't recommend it, especially for long-term use. The most dangerous well water contaminants (arsenic, nitrates, uranium, bacteria) are invisible and tasteless. A new well that looks and tastes fine can still contain levels of arsenic or nitrates that pose serious long-term health risks, particularly for children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Our free water test takes the guesswork out of it entirely.

A water softener specifically removes hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) through ion exchange, replacing them with a small amount of sodium. It doesn't filter contaminants like arsenic, chlorine, or PFAS. A water filter removes specific contaminants: carbon filters for chlorine, arsenic filters for arsenic, RO membranes for a broad spectrum of dissolved contaminants. Many Northern Nevada homes benefit from both: a softener for hardness and a filter (or RO) for contaminants. Our free water test determines exactly what your water needs.

No. Standard water softeners only remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). They do not remove arsenic, PFAS/PFOS, nitrates, bacteria, chlorine, or most other contaminants. For arsenic removal you need a dedicated arsenic filter or RO system. For PFAS/PFOS, you need the Reionator Pro Ultra or a dedicated PFAS filter. For nitrates, the Pure SIR200 or a reverse osmosis system. This is why proper water testing is critical, so you get the right solution for your actual water chemistry.

Reverse osmosis (RO) forces water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks up to 99% of dissolved contaminants, including arsenic, nitrates, fluoride, PFAS, lead, pharmaceuticals, and dissolved minerals. It produces the purest drinking water available, better than most bottled water brands. Whether you need it depends on your water test results. If your well water has elevated arsenic, nitrates, or multiple contaminants, an RO system is often the most cost-effective solution. Our tankless RO systems pay for themselves versus the cost of bottled water within 1–2 years.

Salt-free systems (like our Sierra Spring VII) use a different technology called Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) that changes the structure of hardness minerals so they can't stick to surfaces, rather than removing them entirely. They prevent and reduce scale without adding sodium, without waste water, and without the slippery feel of softened water. They're highly effective for scale prevention but technically condition rather than soften. For customers concerned about sodium intake, environmental impact, or the soft water "feel," salt-free is an excellent option.

With proper maintenance, most of our systems last 20–30 years or longer. The control valves and electronics typically last 15–20 years. Media and filter cartridges are replaced periodically (every 1–5 years depending on the system and water quality). Our products come with a real lifetime warranty, meaning if the system fails to perform as specified, we fix it. This is genuinely unlimited coverage, not a limited warranty with fine print.

Yes, and it's actually a sign the softener is working correctly. The "slippery" feeling is your skin's natural oils, which hard water was stripping away. With softened water, your skin retains its natural moisture. You also use significantly less soap because soft water lathers and rinses much more efficiently. Most people adjust quickly and prefer soft water. If you really dislike the feel, our salt-free conditioning systems provide scale prevention without the slippery sensation.

The main ongoing task is adding salt to the brine tank, typically every 4–8 weeks depending on your water hardness and household size. We also recommend an annual check-up by a certified technician to inspect the resin bed, control valve, and brine assembly. Our Live Pure Service Plan includes scheduled maintenance reminders and annual water re-testing, so you never have to worry about keeping track of it yourself.

Yes, in several areas. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "forever chemicals," have been detected in Fernley city water (PFOS and PFHxS), Spanish Springs water (PFOA near 3 ng/L, close to the EPA's 4 ng/L MCL), and at trace levels in other parts of the region. PFAS don't break down in the environment or the human body. They're linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, immune suppression, and developmental issues. Standard filters do not reduce them: specialized media is required.

Hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) are not directly harmful to health: they're naturally occurring minerals your body needs. However, very hard water can exacerbate eczema and dry skin conditions, and the scale buildup it causes can harbor bacteria in pipes and appliances. The bigger health concern in Northern Nevada hard water is what often comes with it: arsenic, nitrates, and disinfection byproducts. Those co-occurring contaminants are the reason we always recommend testing rather than just treating for hardness.

Yes, nitrates are particularly dangerous for infants under 6 months. Nitrates convert to nitrites in an infant's digestive system and interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, causing "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia), which can be fatal. The EPA maximum for nitrates is 10 ppm. Spanish Springs water has tested at exactly 10 ppm. If you have a well in an agricultural area or use Spanish Springs water and have a young infant, an RO system or Pure SIR200 nitrate filter is strongly recommended.

No. Boiling water effectively kills bacteria and viruses, but it does not reduce chemical contaminants. In fact, boiling concentrates arsenic, nitrates, and PFAS: as water evaporates, the contaminants remain and become more concentrated in the remaining water. The only effective ways to reduce these contaminants are through reverse osmosis, specialized filtration media (arsenic adsorption, ion-exchange for nitrates, activated carbon/PFAS media), or distillation.

In most cases, yes. Bottled water is largely unregulated: the FDA oversees it less strictly than the EPA oversees tap water, and many bottled water brands are simply filtered municipal tap water. A high-quality point-of-use RO system or whole-house filtration system produces water equal to or better than premium bottled water brands. It also eliminates the cost ($800–$2,000/year for bottled water vs. pennies per gallon from an RO system) and the environmental impact of plastic bottles.

One of our WQA-certified water quality specialists visits your home at a time that works for you. We test your water on-site for hardness, pH, iron, manganese, chlorine, and total dissolved solids (TDS). For well water, we also check for hydrogen sulfide. If you're concerned about arsenic, nitrates, bacteria, or PFAS, we send samples to a state-certified laboratory. Results are explained clearly, and we recommend solutions only if your water has actual issues. There is zero obligation to purchase anything.

Most residential system installations are completed in 2–4 hours in a single visit. Complex whole-house systems with multiple components may take 4–6 hours. Our technicians handle everything: selecting the optimal location, making all plumbing connections, testing the system, and walking you through operation and maintenance. We leave your home clean, and your new system is fully operational the same day.

Yes. All installations are performed by licensed, insured professionals. Pure Water Systems holds NV License #49317A and CA License #1054103. Our team includes 8 Water Quality Association (WQA) certified technicians: the industry's highest certification standard for water treatment. We're also BBB A+ rated and hold Elite Service designation from HomeAdvisor.

Yes. We service and maintain water treatment systems regardless of who installed them, including systems from other brands and competitors. We stock a wide range of replacement parts, filter cartridges, salt, and media. If you've moved into a home with an existing system or had a system installed by another company, call us: we can assess its condition, service it, or recommend an upgrade if needed.

Yes. Water system emergencies don't keep business hours, and neither do we. Our main line (775) 261-8565 is monitored for urgent situations around the clock. For after-hours emergencies (major leaks, system failures, loss of water pressure), call our main number and follow the prompts to reach our on-call technician.

We serve all of Northern Nevada and parts of Northern California from our three showroom locations in Reno, Dayton, and Fernley. Service areas include Reno, Sparks, Dayton, Fernley, Carson City, Carson Valley (Gardnerville, Minden, Genoa), Lake Tahoe, Truckee (CA), Yerington, Fallon, Palomino Valley, Spanish Springs, Cold Springs, Sun Valley, Lyon County, Washoe County, Churchill County, Douglas County, and Placer County, CA.

Water softener systems from Pure Water Systems start from $55/month with our low monthly payment financing, with no down payment required. Pricing varies based on your water hardness level, household size, and the specific system recommended after your water test. The investment typically pays for itself within 1–2 years through savings on soap, detergent, appliance repairs, energy efficiency, and bottled water costs. A quality water softener can save a Northern Nevada homeowner over $4,500 per year.

Yes. We offer two financing options: 0% same-as-cash financing (pay over time with no interest charges added) and low monthly payment financing starting at $31/month. Both options require no down payment on qualifying systems. Fast approval: most customers know their status the same day. Financing covers the full system cost including professional installation.

Yes, significantly so. Northern Nevada has among the hardest water in the United States. Hard water reduces appliance efficiency by up to 30%, voids most tankless water heater warranties, causes you to use 25% more soap and detergent, and shortens appliance lifespan by years. The cost savings from reduced soap, appliance longevity, energy efficiency, and avoided repairs typically exceed $4,500 per year for a Northern Nevada household. Most systems pay for themselves within the first year or two.

Our lifetime warranty means exactly what it says: if your system fails to perform as specified at any point during its life, we'll repair or replace it. There are no time limits, no fine print exclusions for normal use, and no deductibles. This applies to the systems themselves. Consumable items like filter cartridges, salt, and UV bulbs are expected maintenance items with their own replacement schedules. If you keep up with maintenance and something still goes wrong with the system, we cover it.

We're a locally owned and operated company with 30+ years of roots specifically in Northern Nevada's water. National chains use standardized systems and salespeople: we use WQA-certified water quality scientists who know this region's unique geology and water chemistry. We sell 100% American-made products, provide genuine lifetime warranties (not limited warranty programs), and have Mike and Bryce personally invested in every customer relationship. We've been trusted by Google, Tesla, Renown Health, and 15,000+ Northern Nevada homeowners, not because we're the cheapest, but because we're the best.