Water Softener & Filtration Installation in Arlington, VA
Arlington homes get moderately hard water from Arlington County, disinfected with chloramine. We soften it, remove the disinfectant and polish your drinking water for $2,499 installed.
What is in Arlington's water
Arlington reported about 8 grains per gallon of hardness and a 2.1 mg/L chloramine residual for 2025. That combination is why Arlington glassware spots and why a standard carbon pitcher never quite fixes the taste. Older homes may also still have lead service lines, which Arlington is actively replacing.
Seasonal changes
The Washington Aqueduct switches to free chlorine for a few weeks each spring. Expect a stronger chlorine smell and taste during the flush.
Lead and older plumbing
Arlington has an active program to find and replace lead service lines. Homes built before the mid-1950s are the most likely to still have one.
PFAS: Utilities that draw from the Potomac have reported low-level PFAS detections in routine monitoring. EPA finalized limits for PFOA and PFOS in 2024. An under-sink reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 is the practical fix at the tap you drink from.
Water utility
Arlington County Water
- Hardness
- 7 to 9 grains per gallon
- Moderately hard
- Disinfectant
- Chloramine
- Needs catalytic carbon
- Source
- Potomac River, treated by the Washington Aqueduct (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Arlington water is safe and well documented. Its moderate hardness shows up as spotting on dishes and buildup on shower doors, and the chloramine residual is what people taste and smell.
Checked September 2026. Source: Arlington County water quality reports.
Homes in Arlington
Arlington is dense: 1930s to 1950s brick colonials and Cape Cods with small utility rooms, plus a large share of condos and townhomes. We fit compact softeners in tight basements and install under-sink reverse osmosis in condos where a whole-home system is not an option.
What we usually install here
A whole-home softener with catalytic carbon handles hardness and chloramine together. Under-sink reverse osmosis covers drinking water, and it is the realistic option for Arlington condos where a whole-home install is not possible.
Arlington pricing, published
Prices include equipment, a licensed plumber's installation and startup for a standard install. If anything about your home changes the price, you hear it before we book the plumber, not after.
Whole-Home + Drinking Water
The complete package for a municipal-water home.
$2,499installed
- Metered whole-home softener
- Catalytic carbon for chloramine and chlorine
- Sediment pre-filter and bypass
- 5-stage under-sink reverse osmosis with faucet
- Licensed installation, startup and salt
Whole-Home Only
Soft, chlorine-free water at every tap and shower.
$1,899installed
- Metered whole-home softener
- Catalytic carbon media
- Sediment pre-filter and bypass
- Licensed installation, startup and salt
- Add reverse osmosis any time
Reverse Osmosis Only
Clean drinking water for condos and kitchens.
$799installed
- 5-stage NSF/ANSI 58 system
- Removes lead, PFAS and dissolved solids
- Dedicated lead-free faucet
- Optional fridge and ice line
- Licensed installation and first filters
Standard install covers
- Main water line, a drain and an outlet within reach in a basement, garage or utility room
- Kitchen sink with cabinet space for the reverse osmosis unit
- Copper or PEX supply lines in serviceable condition
- Permit where your jurisdiction requires one
Quoted before we book
- Long plumbing runs to reach the main line, or adding a drain or outlet
- Crawlspace or exterior installs, and galvanized pipe that needs replacing
- Private wells: lab test first, then a system designed to the results
- Fridge and ice maker line for the reverse osmosis unit
Water problems we fix in Arlington
How it works in Arlington
Request a consultation
Send your address and the service you want. We check your utility's published hardness and disinfectant and ask a few questions about your home.
Get one firm price
Within a business day you get the exact equipment we recommend, with model numbers, and an installed price that does not change on install day.
Licensed plumber installs it
A licensed, insured plumber installs the system in two to four hours, tests it, and walks you through salt and filter changes. Then you forget about it.
Arlington neighborhoods we serve
- Ballston
- Clarendon
- Rosslyn
- Shirlington
- Columbia Pike
- Lyon Village
- Cherrydale
- Westover
- Fairlington
- Crystal City
ZIP codes: 22201, 22202, 22203, 22204, 22205, 22206, 22207, 22209, 22213
Arlington water questions
How hard is the water in Arlington?
Arlington is served by Arlington County Water. The utility reports 7 to 9 grains per gallon, which is moderately hard. Arlington reported a 2025 average of 142 mg/L, about 8 grains per gallon.
Does Arlington tap water contain chloramine?
Yes. Arlington reported a 2025 average chloramine residual of 2.1 mg/L. Catalytic carbon, not standard carbon, is what removes it reliably. That is why we use catalytic carbon in every Arlington whole-home system instead of standard carbon.
How much does a water softener cost in Arlington?
$1,899 installed for a metered softener with catalytic carbon, or $2,499 with an under-sink reverse osmosis system. That covers equipment, a licensed plumber's installation and startup for a standard install; we quote any extras before booking.
Do you install in Arlington townhomes and condos?
Townhomes, yes, usually with a compact single-tank softener in the utility closet. Condos where the building supply cannot be modified get an under-sink reverse osmosis system, which handles drinking water taste, lead and PFAS without touching shared plumbing.
Is Arlington water safe to drink?
Yes. Arlington County meets federal and state standards, and we will never claim otherwise. A home system addresses comfort (hardness, disinfectant taste and smell) and, at the kitchen tap, contaminants that enter from home plumbing such as lead.