We have the best water in the world here in northern Illinois, we call it the Lake Michigan Cocktail! Been in the house 35 years and never had a water softener and all the faucets and plumbing are still original when the house was built in 1972. That is one of the main things that keeps me up in this God forsaken state, the water is awesome! I dread the day I move to Tennessee and have to find a place that has good water...