Home / Water Systems / Dual Tank: Well Water
Water softener and iron filter for Arizona well water.
Well water is a different problem from city water. This system pairs a softening tank with a Katalox Light tank to reduce iron, manganese and the hydrogen sulfide that causes a rotten-egg smell, plus hardness. Each tank has its own control valve.
Dual Tank: Well Water: quick answers
What does it treat?
Hardness, iron (orange stains), manganese (dark stains) and hydrogen sulfide (rotten-egg smell).
The Katalox Light tank includes a carbon layer for taste and odor; the second tank softens.
Does it remove arsenic?
No. Arsenic occurs naturally in some Arizona groundwater, and it calls for point-of-use treatment like reverse osmosis.
We recommend testing a private well with a certified lab, and pairing this system with reverse osmosis for drinking water when the results call for it.
Do I need a water test first?
Yes. Well water varies from one property to the next, so we test before recommending equipment.
See our well water guide.
Dual Tank Well Water specifications
| Configuration | Softening tank, Katalox Light tank and brine tank |
|---|---|
| Control valves | Two ProValves, one per tank, ceramic discs, 72-hour memory backup |
| Iron and sulfur media | Katalox Light with a coconut shell carbon layer |
| Softening resin | ResinTech CG10, 10% crosslinked |
| Tanks | Enpress fiberglass |
| Brine (salt) tank | 15″ x 35″ square |
| Valve flow rate | 28 gallons per minute |
| Service flow | 27 gallons per minute at a 15 psi pressure drop |
| Regeneration | Upflow, counter-current, demand-initiated (meters actual water use) |
| Backwash flow | 3.0 gallons per minute |
| Bypass | 1″ full-flow bypass valve, included |
| Connections | 1″ NPT; 1.25″ high-flow distributor tube |
| Operating pressure | 30–125 psi |
| Water temperature | 40–110°F |
| Power | 120V outlet with 12V transformer |
Specifications from the distributor’s product sheet. Media limits depend on your well’s chemistry, so we confirm fit after testing.
Who it’s for
- Homes on a private well (common around Cave Creek, New River, Rio Verde and the outer East and West Valley)
- Orange or black staining, metallic taste or a sulfur smell
- Hard well water
What it won’t do
- It doesn’t disinfect. If bacteria are a concern, add whole-home UV.
- It doesn’t remove arsenic, nitrate or dissolved solids; that’s a job for reverse osmosis.
- Very high iron or sulfur levels may need a different build. Testing tells us.
Certified components
- Control valve: certified to NSF/ANSI 44
- Fiberglass mineral tank (Enpress): certified to NSF/ANSI 44 and 61
- Coconut shell carbon (Jacobi): certified to NSF/ANSI 61
- Softening resin: ResinTech CG10, 10% crosslinked
These are certifications of individual components for material safety and softener performance. They are not a contaminant-reduction certification for the complete system.
Warranty
| Media tanks, storage tanks and brine tank | Lifetime |
|---|---|
| Ceramic valve discs and system dry parts | Lifetime |
| Control valve body and circuit board | 5 years |
| Filtration media (resin and carbon) | 5 years |
| Installation labor | 1 year from purchase |
Coverage applies to the original purchaser under normal operating conditions. Read the full warranty →
Price
Most Happy Tap systems fall between $2,950 and $6,950, depending on the setup: city or well water, the size of your home and household, and how much plumbing the install needs. Your quote is one written number before any work starts. Installation is available through licensed Arizona plumbing professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?
That smell is usually hydrogen sulfide gas. Katalox Light media is designed to reduce it along with iron and manganese.
Will this fix orange stains?
Orange and red staining usually comes from iron, which this system is built to reduce. We confirm your iron level first.
How often should I test my well?
Arizona agencies recommend private well owners test regularly through a certified lab, since no utility does it for you.
Other Happy Tap systems
Standard Softener + Filtration
48,000 grains. Softening and chlorine filtration in one tank. Our most popular system.
View system →XL Softener + Filtration
64,000 grains for larger homes, bigger households or harder water.
View system →Dual Tank: City Water
96,000 grains with a separate carbon tank that backwashes itself.
View system →Salt-Free Conditioner
Scale prevention with no salt, no drain and no power. Does not soften.
View system →Tankless RO (800 GPD)
Seven stages, water on demand, no storage tank under the sink.
View system →5-Stage Tank RO
A proven under-sink RO system with a storage tank and alkaline stage.
View system →Add-ons: Alkaline & UV
Remineralize RO water, or add whole-home UV for well water.
View system →Not sure which one fits?
We test your water at your sink, explain the numbers, and size the system to your home. Free, and no pressure.