The type of salt you will use will depend on if you will have a reverse osmosis system or not. Most customers do not drink softened water because of the extra sodium intake which can lead to high blood pressure. Most customers drink and cook with reverse osmosis water which removes sodium along with 1,000’s of other contaminants which allows them to use regular water softener salt safely. If you plan on not having a reverse osmosis system installed then you should only buy Potassium Chloride (salt alternative) pellets for water softeners. This will put potassium in water rather than sodium which will prevent anyone from getting high blood pressure from the water softener. The down side is Potassium Chloride pellets cost six times more than regular water softener salt. Regardless Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Walmart, Meir’s and etc. carries both types of salt.