Water Softener in Bahama, NC

What the call looks like

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in northern Durham County. Tell them the house is on a well, describe what you're seeing, and share any test results. If the last test is old or never happened, expect the plumber to suggest one before recommending anything. A sample tells them whether you need an iron and manganese filter, a softener, an acid neutralizer, a drinking-water unit or some combination.

Factors in the price

• The number of treatment stages the test calls for
• Flow rate needed for the size of the household
• Where the pressure tank sits and how much room is beside it
• Drain routing for backwash on a property not on municipal sewer
• Ongoing media, salt and cartridge costs

Bahama's water situation

Lake Michie, Durham's main reservoir, sits right beside Bahama, but its water goes to City of Durham customers. Bahama is outside city limits, and the City generally requires annexation and a Utility Extension Agreement before extending water or sewer, so most homes here have private wells and onsite wastewater systems. Owners with failing wells are among those who have petitioned for annexation. Durham County Environmental Health permits, inspects and tests private wells.

The countywide test data are worth knowing. In UNC's analysis of Durham County wells, 38% of 857 tested exceeded the manganese advisory and 22.6% of 501 exceeded the iron advisory. About 2.2% exceeded the lead action level and about 1% the arsenic standard. Lead in well water usually comes from corrosion in the home's plumbing rather than the aquifer, which is one reason a test checks pH as well. Those numbers aren't Bahama-specific, but they explain why stain-fighting filters are a far more common install here than softeners.

Most Bahama water heaters are electric or propane, since piped gas is rare in this ZIP. Plumbing permits come from Durham City-County Building and Safety, with well permits handled separately by the county.

Have these ready

• Any past well test, including the date
• A note of which fixtures stain and the color
• Clear access to the well's pressure tank
• The location of a floor drain, laundry drain or other discharge point