Water Softener in Northglenn, CO

How hard is Northglenn's water?

Moderately hard. Northglenn's latest water quality report gives an average of 120 mg/L, about 7 grains per gallon, but notes that number was measured in 2019. The water itself is Clear Creek snowmelt carried through the Berthoud Pass Ditch, Croke Canal and Church Ditch to Standley Lake, where Northglenn stores it alongside water for Thornton and Westminster. The city treats it at its own plant on West 112th Avenue and disinfects with chlorine. At around 7 grains you will usually see some spotting and slow scale growth, which is the range where a softener becomes a comfort choice rather than a must.

Do older Perl-Mack homes need anything different?

Many Northglenn houses date to the original 1959 to early 1960s Perl-Mack build-out. In homes that age, the plumber will look at what the softener ties into: old galvanized branch lines, aging shutoff valves or a water heater with years of sediment. A softener can slow new scale, but it will not clean out pipes that are already restricted, and it should not be installed on a corroded section that needs replacing anyway. Homes in newer infill such as Karl's Farm usually have simpler installs with modern valves and PEX or copper. Either way, homeowners in Northglenn pay for leaks between the meter and the house, so it is worth fixing weak spots on that run while the water is off.

What about chlorine taste?

Northglenn uses chlorine, not chloramine. A standard carbon filter reduces chlorine taste well, either at the kitchen sink or on the main line. A softener does nothing for taste, so if that is your main complaint, a filter alone may be the better buy. Some households pair the two: a softener on the main line and a small carbon filter at the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water.

Permits and sewer

Northglenn's Building Division, run through SAFEbuilt, requires permits for plumbing modifications and water heater work. Tying a softener into the main may count, so ask the plumber to check. Northglenn also treats its own wastewater at a plant in Weld County, so it is not part of the Metro Water Recovery system that serves much of the metro.