Apex water is moderately soft, about 1.9 grains per gallon in the town's most recent report, so a softener usually isn't needed. What many Apex households actually want is a carbon filter for chloramine taste. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Apex.
Apex water at a glance
The Town of Apex runs its own distribution system, but the water is treated from Jordan Lake at the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Plant, which Apex co-owns with Cary. The town's 2024 water quality report lists average total hardness of 33.3 (the unit is printed as ppb, which is almost certainly meant to be ppm), or 1.9 grains per gallon, and describes the water as moderately soft. Sodium averaged 26 ppm and pH 7.97.
Apex disinfects with chloramine, with a 2024 running average of 3.23 ppm, and makes an annual switch to chlorine in spring. That change is when residents tend to notice the smell most.
Two other details help homeowners. The town found no lead or galvanized service lines needing replacement, and homes built before 1988 can request a free service line inspection. And Apex housing is very new: the median home was built in 2008, and fewer than 4% predate 1980. In most Apex houses, the main line is PEX or copper in a garage or utility closet, which makes installing a filter fairly simple.
Comparing the options
| Option | What it does well | What it won't do |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house catalytic carbon | Cuts chloramine taste and odor at every tap and shower | Doesn't soften water |
| Under-sink carbon or RO | Better-tasting drinking and cooking water | Leaves showers and laundry untouched |
| Salt-based softener | Removes hardness minerals | Little to remove at 1.9 grains; adds sodium; doesn't touch chloramine |
| Sediment prefilter | Catches grit after main work or flushing | Doesn't affect taste |
Signs worth acting on
- Family members avoiding the tap because of taste
- Shower water that leaves skin feeling dry from disinfectant
- Grit in aerators after nearby construction
- Someone pitching a softener without testing your water
Seasonal notes
The spring switch to chlorine is temporary, so if the smell only bothers you then, an under-sink filter may be all you need. If you're adding irrigation at the same time, remember Apex requires a reduced pressure backflow assembly, tested annually, between the meter and the first sprinkler head. A plumber can plan both jobs together. Once a filter is in, mark the cartridge date on the housing; a clogged cartridge is a common cause of a sudden pressure drop in newer Apex homes.
Water Softeners & Filtration questions in Apex
Where do I find the hardness of my town's water?
Why does my tap water smell stronger for a few weeks in spring?
What gets rid of the chlorine or chloramine taste?
How much sodium does a salt-based softener add?
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