While a water softener removes hard minerals, a water filter removes chemicals, bad tastes, and potential contaminants. If you dislike the taste of Denver tap water, filtration is the answer.
What's in Denver Municipal Water?
Denver Water sources its supply mostly from mountain snowmelt via the South Platte and Colorado rivers. By the time it reaches your tap, it contains:
- Chloramines: Denver Water uses chloramines (a mix of chlorine and ammonia) to disinfect water. This is safer than plain chlorine as it produces fewer disinfection byproducts, but it can give water a swimming pool smell and is harder to filter out.
- Fluoride: Added for dental health.
- Sediment: Trace amounts of rust or dirt picked up from miles of underground distribution pipes.
- Trace Minerals: The calcium and magnesium that cause hard water.
Filtration vs. Softening
These two technologies solve different problems, which is why many Denver homes install both:
- ✓ Removes Calcium & Magnesium
- ✓ Prevents pipe scale
- ✓ Improves soap lather
- ✗ Does NOT remove chlorine/chemicals
- ✗ Does NOT improve drinking taste
- ✓ Removes Chlorine & Chloramines
- ✓ Improves taste and odor
- ✓ Removes VOCs & chemicals
- ✗ Does NOT remove hardness
- ✗ Does NOT prevent scale buildup
Types of Filtration Media
1. Activated Carbon
The most common and effective filtration media for municipal water. Carbon acts like a sponge, adsorbing chemicals as water passes through.Crucial for Denver: Standard carbon struggles with chloramines. If you want to remove Denver's disinfectant, you must look for filters specifically labeled as using Catalytic Carbon.
2. Sediment Filters
Basic physical barriers (usually 5 to 50 microns) that catch dirt, sand, and rust. Often used as the first "pre-filter" stage to protect more expensive carbon filters or softeners.
3. KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion)
A specialized copper-zinc formulation that uses an electrochemical process to remove chlorine, iron, and heavy metals. Excellent for extending the life of carbon filters.
Whole-House vs. Point-of-Use
Should you filter all the water in your house, or just at the kitchen sink?
| Type | Pros | Cons | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-House (POE) | Chlorine-free showers (better for hair/skin), protects internal plumbing, filters water at every tap. | Expensive, requires plumbing installation, filters deplete faster. | $800 - $2,500+ |
| Under-Sink (POU) | Highly effective for drinking water, cheaper, easy DIY installation, filters last longer. | Showers and bathroom sinks still have chlorinated water. | $100 - $400 |
| Fridge / Pitcher | Very cheap upfront, no installation required. | Slow filtering, expensive replacement filters long-term, limited contaminant removal. | $30 - $100 |
Installation Considerations
If you decide on a Whole-House system, it is typically installed right where the water main enters your home. The standard sequence is:
Main Water Line → Sediment Filter → Carbon Filter → Water Softener → Home Plumbing
Installing the carbon filter before the water softener is beneficial because it removes chlorine/chloramines, which can gradually degrade the softening resin over many years.