After that, you can decide which treatment system will work best for you. The filtration method uses carbon filters to absorb contaminants that cause taste and odor problems. Filters come in many forms, but all have carbon canisters which must be replaced regularly. A pitcher is an inexpensive filtration system. A faucet mount is another option.
Water softeners remove minerals from water, including calcium, magnesium, radium and barium.
Hard water is typical in Iowa, and preference and taste are factors when deciding whether to invest in a water softener. RO systems can remove a diverse list of contaminants, including nitrates, sodium and suspended solids. They are usually placed undera sink or in a basement. Distillation systems boil water to remove the contaminants and then condense the resulting steam to create distilled water in some form of storage tank. Because some substances don't vaporize, they end up on the bottom on the tank.