Water softener installation in St. Petersburg, FL: what's really in your water
Hard water from a plant 25 miles away, and chloramine.
St. Petersburg's water is treated at the city's Cosme plant in Odessa, from a blend of wells, river water and desalinated seawater. It runs about 7.3 grains of hardness and is disinfected with chloramine.
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You're probably on this page because:
- Your water tastes different from month to month
- Your shower smells like a pool
- There's scale on your faucets
That's St. Pete water. Here's the fix.
What hard water looks like
Crusty shower head. White buildup clogs the spray.
Faucet scale. Comes right back after you scrub.
Cloudy glasses. Even right out of the dishwasher.
Hard water stains on glass. That foggy film that won't wipe off.
See 2 or more? Your water is hard.
Hard water, by the numbers
- About 156 pounds of rock a year: what a family of 4 runs through its pipes at 10 grains of hardness. About 250 pounds in very hard water.
- Up to 48% less efficient: gas water heaters on hard water in testing.
- 1 in 3 homeowners replaced appliances or fixtures because of buildup.
Sources: 300 gal/day × grains × 64.8 mg × 365; WQRF and Battelle; Morton Salt survey via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Where St. Pete's water really comes from
St. Petersburg's only drinking water plant isn't in St. Pete. The Cosme Water Treatment Plant sits in Odessa, about 25 miles north, and has been running since 1930. Water travels to the city through two big mains. (St. Pete Catalyst)
The city buys its source water from Tampa Bay Water, which blends groundwater, river water and water from the Tampa Bay seawater desalination plant. At Cosme, it gets more treatment, including softening, before it heads south.
The city is planning upgrades at Cosme, including a new water blending facility, to keep quality steady as the supply mix changes.
Why the taste can change
Because the source is a blend, the mix shifts with the seasons and with demand. Groundwater is harder; surface water and desalinated water are softer. That's why St. Pete water can taste a little different from one month to the next.
St. Pete also disinfects with chloramine, which is harder to filter than chlorine and gives that steady pool smell some people notice in a hot shower.
The fix at home: a softener sized for the harder months, with catalytic carbon in front for the chloramine. That's the City Water System.
Best setup for St. Petersburg homes
- City Water System: $2,950 installed. Softener for hardness, carbon for the disinfectant, RO for drinking water
Life with it vs. without
| Without it | With it |
|---|---|
| Spots, scale or that pool taste | Clean, soft-feeling water |
| Guessing what you need | A system matched to St. Petersburg water |
How we work, start to finish
- 1
You reach out or book online
- 2
A rep calls you, usually within 5 minutes, to confirm your system and answer questions
- 3
We schedule a licensed local plumber, usually within a week
- 4
Install day: a few hours, plus a before-and-after water test
- 5
After that: new filters every 6 months if you subscribe
Water advice built on local data
20+ years in water, and every city page starts from that city's own water reports.
- 20+ years in water
- Our own patents
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Written by [Name], [title], [20+] years in water treatment. Reviewed by [Licensed plumber name], license # [#]. Last updated [date]. Sources: listed under each "By the numbers" block and linked in the copy
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Questions people ask
How hard is St. Petersburg water?
About 7.3 grains per gallon, hard.
Does St. Pete use chloramine?
Yes.
Where does St. Pete get its water?
Tampa Bay Water, treated at the Cosme plant in Odessa.
Why does my water taste different sometimes?
The source blend shifts with seasons and demand.
Do I need a softener in St. Pete?
If you see scale and spots, yes.
Which areas do you serve?
[List areas.]