If you know hardness levels in grains, most common areas with "hard water" have 4 to 12 grains. About the best water softener you can get will handle at most 20 grains, but not make it perfect. Our well was tested by 2 well companies and cullagen and all were shocked at 261 grains and 2 rechecked! Not possible to "soften" it. It is not hard to live without drinking from the tap. We use distilled water for the cats and cooking and bottled water for drinking. You get used to it. Better than if I lived in northern Alaska where permafrost prevents wells being dug and if you are out of a town with water supplied by pipes, you wither have a huge tank you have filled OR you live without running water.Can't they treat the water? It seems outrageous to live in a developed country and not be able to drink the tap water.