Hard water leaves white scale on faucets, spots on glass and a crust inside water heaters. In Savage, the City buys about 71.5 percent of its distributed water from Burnsville, and Burnsville's report states hardness of 25 to 26 grains per gallon. Savage's own report does not give a hardness figure, so test your tap or ask City of Savage Utility Services.
We install and repair softeners and filters. We start with a test so we size the equipment to the water you have, not a guess.
What hard water does to a house
- Scale inside water heaters, which wastes energy and shortens tank life
- Clogged aerators and showerheads
- Spotted dishes and glassware
- Stiff laundry and dry skin
- Scale in pipes, fixtures and appliances
Figures come from each city's own water report or page. Savage and Shakopee do not state a hardness figure in their reports, so test at your tap.
Choosing the right equipment
| Equipment | Handles | Does not handle |
|---|---|---|
| Salt-based softener | Hardness, some iron | Taste, chlorine |
| Carbon filter | Taste and odor, chlorine | Hardness, radium |
| Reverse osmosis (drinking tap) | Many dissolved solids | Whole-house flow |
| Sediment filter | Grit and sand | Dissolved minerals |
| Iron filter | Dissolved iron and manganese | Hardness alone |
Many homes use a softener for the whole house and an under-sink reverse osmosis unit for drinking and cooking.
Want your water tested?
Call and we test and size the right system.
A Savage note on radium
The City of Savage has posted a radium update. It reported a 2023 test where radium at Water Treatment Plant 3 was above the limit, took that plant offline and states the situation is not an emergency. The City's page says water softening, reverse osmosis and distillation may help reduce radium, and that carbon filters are not recommended because radium can build up in them.
That is a reason to ask your installer how a unit performs, not a reason to panic. Contact City of Savage Utility Services with health questions and check with a doctor if you are concerned.
Installation and service
- 1
Test
We test hardness, iron and chlorine at your tap.
- 2
Size
We size the system to household water use.
- 3
Install
Bypass valve, drain connection and brine tank or filter housing are set up.
- 4
Program
We set hardness and regeneration, and explain salt use and maintenance.
We also repair existing softeners: stuck valves, brine tank problems and resin issues. If a softener leaks, see our blog index for repair guidance.
Salt, space and upkeep
A salt-based softener needs a spot near the main water line, a drain, an electrical outlet and room to carry bags of salt. Plan the location during the water test. The brine tank should stay above a minimum salt level, and the salt should be loose, not packed in a crust.
Resin lasts for years, but it can foul with iron. An iron cleaner added to the brine tank on a schedule helps. Filters need new cartridges on the maker's schedule, and a neglected one can make the water worse, not better.
We set hardness and regeneration to fit your actual usage, not a default. Over-regenerating wastes salt and water. Under-regenerating lets hard water through. Ask us to recheck the setting once a year.
Near Highway 13 and County Road 16? Our Trout Run Preserve page lists what the city has published about water supply in that part of Savage, and why a tap test beats a guess.
Cost factors
Treatment prices vary by system and home. We quote after testing.
Home insurance does not cover water treatment equipment. It is an improvement, not a repair.
Better water protects your water heater, your faucets and your tankless unit. We serve Savage and neighbors in Lakeville, and Burnsville supplies most of the water Savage buys.
What to do before we arrive for a softener problem
Put the softener in bypass
Most units have a bypass valve or lever near the inlet and outlet pipes.
Unplug the controller if water is near it
Do not touch it with wet hands.
Skip drinking-water decisions for now
Questions about radium or other contaminants belong with City of Savage Utility Services and your doctor.
Note the symptoms
Spots, scale, low pressure or salty taste each point to a different cause.
Code and sources
Under the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, the governing standard is Minnesota Rules chapter 4714, built on the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code with state amendments. This page is general information, not a code review of your home, and your city building department answers permit questions.
Common questions
Use a test kit or ask your utility. Burnsville, which supplies most of Savage's water, reports 25 to 26 grains per gallon.
The City of Savage says softening, reverse osmosis and distillation may help. Ask the installer about the specific unit.
It depends on hardness and household use. We explain it at setup.
Yes for most people. Those on low-sodium diets can use an RO tap.
Often yes. We check the valve, brine system and resin.
Still have a question about your situation? The line is open around the clock. Call (952) 866-9120