Des Moines water meets all state and federal drinking-water standards, and Des Moines Water Works keeps a chlorine disinfectant in it all the way to your faucet so it stays safe in the pipes. That residual is the taste or smell some families notice at the sink and in the shower. A whole-home carbon tank reduces it before water reaches your faucets.
Which plant serves you depends on where you live: southern Des Moines gets L.D. McMullen water, homes north of the city get Saylorville water and the rest of the city gets Fleur Drive water. All three are run by Des Moines Water Works for Central Iowa Water Works, and all three soften the water before it leaves the plant.
| Option | What it does | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon tank only | less chlorine taste and odor, no softening | $1,150 |
| Catalytic carbon tank | for chloraminated city water | $1,450 |
| Softener + whole-home carbon | softer water plus less chlorine taste | $2,500 |
| Softener + carbon + tank RO | adds a drinking-water faucet | $2,850 |
| Salt-free system + carbon | scale conditioning without salt; does not soften | $3,050 |
Catalytic carbon is the stronger choice when a city disinfects with chloramine instead of chlorine. We confirm which disinfectant your supply uses before recommending the standard or catalytic tank; on our Standard System the catalytic upgrade is +$150.
We review the main water line, space, power and drainage. City water rarely needs a pre-sediment filter, because the carbon tank backflushes itself. Whole-home packages include lifetime parts coverage, five years on media and one year on labor under the written warranty.
See water softeners and water treatment in Des Moines, compare whole-home carbon filtration, read the Des Moines water guide or get your installed quote.
A carbon tank on its own is $1,150 installed, or $1,450 with catalytic carbon. With a softener it is $2,500, or $2,850 with a tank reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink. Prices include equipment, installation and taxes.
No. Carbon reduces chlorine taste and odor; a softener removes the calcium and magnesium that leave spots and scale. Des Moines water averaged about 8.5 to 8.9 grains of hardness at the plants in 2025, so many homes choose both.
Not for safety. A whole-home filter is about taste, smell and comfort. If the water tastes fine to you and your screening shows little to treat, we’ll tell you so.
Whole-home water softening, filtration, and reverse-osmosis drinking water — professionally installed and built to last a lifetime.
Serving Des Moines, Polk County & homes across Iowa
Kind Water Co is a d/b/a of Zero Cap Investments LLC · 600 SE 15th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
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