Water Softeners and Filtration in Port St. Lucie
In Port St. Lucie the right water treatment depends on whether you're on city water or a private well. They are different problems with different fixes.
- County
- St. Lucie County
- Permits
- Usually the City of Port St. Lucie Building Department. Confirm for your address.
Port St. Lucie Utility Systems serves most of the city, but some homes in the older platted sections still draw from private wells. Owners on both kinds of water complain about scale, spots on glass and stains, but the cause and the cure aren't the same.
On city water
City water is treated and tested, and the utility publishes an annual water quality report. Read it before buying anything, because it tells you hardness and what's actually in the water. The common complaints on city water are hardness, which leaves scale on fixtures and inside water heaters, and the taste of the disinfectant. A softener handles hardness. A carbon filter handles taste and smell. Many homes only need one of those, not a whole system.
On a private well
Wells in the Port St. Lucie area often carry iron, which leaves orange stains on sinks, sidewalks and the side of the house, and hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. Many homes also run irrigation from a separate shallow well, which is why so many walls and driveways here have rust streaks. Iron and sulfur usually need specific filters, sometimes with air injection or another oxidizing step, ahead of a softener.
Before you buy anything for a well, get the water tested by a lab, not only by a salesperson's test kit. You want numbers for iron, hardness, pH, sulfur and bacteria. That tells you what equipment you need.
Septic, drains and the switch to city water
If you're on septic, ask how the softener's backwash will drain. Some owners prefer to route it away from the drain field. If city water is coming to your street, equipment sized for well problems may not be needed after you connect, so time the purchase. See septic service in Port St. Lucie and plumbing in Port St. Lucie.
Rust stains already on walls and driveways can be cleaned. See pressure washing in Port St. Lucie. The general guide is on the water treatment page and the city overview is on the Port St. Lucie area page.
In the form, tell us whether you're on city water or a well and what you're seeing. We pass it to one independent local business, and they contact you directly.
Water treatment questions in Port St. Lucie
Do I need a water softener on Port St. Lucie city water?
Not necessarily. City water is treated and safe to drink, but it can be hard enough to leave scale. Check Port St. Lucie Utility Systems' annual water quality report for the hardness number. If scale is a real problem for your fixtures and water heater, a softener can help. If it's only taste, a carbon filter may be enough.
Why are there orange stains on my Port St. Lucie house and driveway?
Usually iron from a well, often the shallow irrigation well that runs the sprinklers. Iron water sprayed on block walls, sidewalks and driveways leaves rust colored streaks. An iron filter on the irrigation line or adjusting sprinkler heads can stop new stains. Existing stains usually need a specific rust remover, not just pressure.
How should I test my well water in Port St. Lucie?
Use a certified lab and ask for a panel that includes iron, hardness, pH, hydrogen sulfide and bacteria. Free in home tests from sellers can be a starting point, but lab numbers let you compare quotes fairly. The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County has offered guidance on private well testing, so ask them what's current.
Will a softener hurt my septic system?
Opinions differ, and it depends on the system and how often the softener regenerates. Some owners route the backwash away from the drain field, and newer softeners use less salt and water. Ask the water treatment business and a septic business how they'd handle discharge on your lot before you install.
For the general guide, see Water softeners and filtration on the Treasure Coast. For more about the town, see Port St. Lucie.
Water treatment in other towns
Other services in Port St. Lucie
- AC repair and replacement in Port St. Lucie
- Plumbing in Port St. Lucie
- Electrical in Port St. Lucie
- Standby generators in Port St. Lucie
- Water heaters in Port St. Lucie
- Septic and drain field in Port St. Lucie
- Pool service and resurfacing in Port St. Lucie
- Pest control in Port St. Lucie
- Lawn care and landscaping in Port St. Lucie
- Tree service in Port St. Lucie
- Pressure washing in Port St. Lucie
- Hurricane shutters and impact windows in Port St. Lucie
- Garage doors in Port St. Lucie
- Fencing in Port St. Lucie
- Interior and exterior painting in Port St. Lucie
- Junk removal in Port St. Lucie
- Mold inspection and remediation in Port St. Lucie