Start with your water source
Safe and treated, but in the GTA and Durham usually hard and chlorinated. The common fixes are a softener, whole-house carbon filtration and reverse osmosis for drinking.
You're responsible for testing and treatment. Wells often have hardness, iron, sulphur smell, tannins or bacteria, so systems are usually combined.
Match the problem to the system
| What you notice | Likely cause | Best system |
|---|---|---|
| White scale on taps, kettle and shower glass | Hard water (calcium, magnesium) | Water softener |
| Chlorine taste or smell | Municipal chlorine or chloramine | Whole-house carbon filter |
| Both of the above (most GTA homes) | Hard, chlorinated city water | Enhanced Water Softener |
| Orange or black stains, metallic taste | Iron or manganese | Iron removal filter |
| Rotten-egg smell | Hydrogen sulphide | Iron & sulphur filter |
| Tea-coloured water | Tannins | Tannin treatment |
| Bacteria in a well test | Coliform or E. coli | UV disinfection |
| Want better drinking water | Dissolved solids, taste, fluoride, sodium | Reverse osmosis |
Not sure? The water problem guide walks through each symptom.
What the best setups usually look like
- Typical GTA or Durham city home: softener with carbon for the whole house, plus reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink.
- Well home: iron and sulphur filter, then a softener, then UV disinfection, plus RO for drinking if you like.
- Condo or rental: reverse osmosis under the sink, or a water refill station instead of bottled water.
Our most popular systems
Enhanced Water Softener
Softens hard water and removes chlorine and chloramine in one system.
See Enhanced Water Softener
ClearBlu Plus
Filters every tap and shower: chlorine, chloramine, sediment, taste and odour.
See ClearBlu Plus
UV Pro
Ultraviolet disinfection for well water: bacteria, viruses and cysts.
See UV ProHow to choose a water treatment company
- They test your water at home before recommending anything.
- They explain the results and size the system to them.
- Systems are certified (ours are NSF certified filters and softeners) and built for Canadian water.
- Clear warranty and local follow-up service.
- Honest options: rent, finance or buy.
EHS Water is a proudly Canadian company, a member of the Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA), with 15+ years treating Ontario water. Book a free water test or see water treatment near you.
Questions
What is the best water treatment system for a home?
The one that matches your water. For most GTA city homes that's a softener with carbon filtration plus reverse osmosis for drinking. Well homes often need iron removal, softening and UV together. A water test tells you for sure.
Do I need water treatment if I'm on city water?
City water is safe to drink, but many people treat it for hardness, chlorine taste and smell, or to get better drinking water. It's about comfort, appliances and taste, not safety.
Is reverse osmosis or a whole-house filter better?
They do different jobs. A whole-house filter treats every tap for chlorine and sediment; reverse osmosis gives the purest drinking water at one tap. Many homes use both.
How do I find water treatment near me?
EHS Water serves Toronto, Durham Region, York, Peel and Halton. See our service areas or call +1 888 701 4686.
Free in-home water test
Find out what's in your water
We test your water at your home, show you what's in it, and recommend the system that fits.
- Free
- About 30 minutes
- No obligation