Well Water vs. City Water: Choosing the Right Filter

You fill your glass with water from the kitchen sink and notice the taste is a little off. The glass looks cloudy, even though it just came from the dishwasher.  And come to think of it, the laundry always seems a little musty, too.

These aren't random problems. They're warning signs that your home's water might not be as clean as you think.

Water quality issues can feel like an isolated problem, but they’re far more common than most homeowners realize. And whether you’re on a private well water vs. city water, the right filtration solution is easier to find than you might expect.

City and well water may look the same coming out of the tap. But they harbor very different challenges in taste, odor, and everyday use. Understanding where your water comes from, and the unique issues each source presents, helps you to choose the right filtration system for your home.

Two Types of Water Sources, Two Different Characteristics

Solving water problems starts with knowing what’s coming into your home in the first place. City and well water are treated differently, move through distinct delivery systems, and are exposed to their own unique contaminants along the way to your glass. These differences determine which filtration system will solve your specific issues.

City Water Basics

City water is managed by a municipal water supply, typically at the city or county level. It must meet federal and state safety standards. Before it reaches your home, it goes through a multi-step treatment process that filters and disinfects the supply.

Even so, city water can still carry chlorine or chloramine, trace sediments, and byproducts released from aging pipes and infrastructure. This paired with the ongoing discussion around federal safety levels for contaminants and whether they’re not strict enough is why many homeowners choose to invest in a home water filtration system.

Common Contaminants in City Water

• Chlorine and chloramine: Disinfectants used in municipal water treatment that linger in tap water and can cause chemical taste, odor, and skin dryness
• Disinfection byproducts (DBPs): Formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the system
• Sediment: Fine particles from aging pipes or distribution line disturbances
• Hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium): Contribute to scale buildup in plumbing and appliances
• Lead: Can get into water through old service lines, plumbing joints, or fixtures
• Copper: Often comes from household plumbing corrosion
• Microplastics: Introduced from industrial runoff or water distribution infrastructure
• Pharmaceutical traces: Occasionally found in municipal supplies at low levels
• PFAs: Man-made chemicals that don't break down easily and can accumulate in water sources over time

If your water tastes bad, has a chlorine smell, or notice a reduction in appliance efficiency, your home water would benefit from home filtration.

Well Water Basics

Well water comes directly from underground aquifers and is not regulated or treated by any governing agency. Because homeowners are solely responsible for testing and maintaining their own supply, well water often carries naturally occurring contaminants and is richer in minerals.

Common Contaminants in Well Water

• Iron: Causes reddish-brown staining and a metallic taste
• Manganese: Leads to black or dark staining and a bitter, metallic taste
• Hydrogen Sulfide: Creates a "rotten egg" odor and unpleasant taste
• Sediment and silt: Make water appear cloudy or gritty and can clog fixtures
• Hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium): Contribute to scale buildup in plumbing and appliances
• Organic matter: Introduced from soil, decaying vegetation, or surface infiltration
• Bacteria or microorganisms: Possible in untreated wells, especially after flooding or seasonal changes
• Nitrates: Often from agricultural runoff and a concern for rural properties

Treating well water not only ensures safety, but also improves taste, odor, and overall quality. With the right filtration system in place, your water becomes cleaner, more reliable, and far easier on your home’s plumbing and appliances.

iFilters: A Clear Answer to a Murky Problem

Whether your water comes from the city or a private well, iFilters has a solution that makes everyday life simpler and more comfortable. Both systems are designed for quick installs, minimal maintenance, and reliable performance, so you can enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water without any fuss.

Best for Homes on City/Municipal Water

City water can contain chlorine, chemical tastes, and trace VOCs that affect your water quality. The iFilters MWH-D Whole House Water Filtration System offers a simple upgrade that makes a noticeable difference throughout your home.

This system is available in both 10-inch and 20-inch options, with the 20-inch filters providing higher capacity, longer filter life, and better flow rates, making them ideal for homes with higher water usage.

Everyday issues it solves:

• Removal of chlorine from water, improving taste and smell
• Reduces chemical odors
• Protects your plumbing and appliances from buildup
• Helps prevent sediment from clogging faucets and showerheads
• Improves water clarity throughout the entire home
• Reduces wear on water-using appliances like water heaters and washing machines

Benefits & ease of use:

• Quick, straightforward installation
• Low-maintenance filter changes
• Affordable upgrade that makes your tap water feel fresh

This system uses a dual-stage filtration setup designed for everyday city water concerns. The first stage captures sediment like dirt, rust, and sand, while the second stage uses a CTO (chlorine, taste, and odor) carbon block to reduce chlorine, chemical tastes, and certain VOCs. Together, these filters work to improve water quality before it reaches every faucet in your home.

With cleaner, better-tasting water throughout the house, this system offers a practical upgrade without added complexity. It’s a simple way to make daily water use feel noticeably better.

Best for Homes on Well Water

Well water can contain sediment, rust, minerals, heavy metals, and odors that affect taste. The iFilters MWH-D-WELL Whole House Filtration System is designed to handle these challenges, removing additional contaminants and finer sediment that standard systems may miss.

Unlike the standard MWH-D system, this well water version uses a specialized dual-stage filtration with a sediment filter and advanced GAC (granular activated carbon) / KDF (kinetic degradation fluxion) stage to reduce rust, sulfur odors, heavy metals, and other well water impurities, ensuring your water is safe, clean, and enjoyable throughout the home.

For homes with higher water demand, the system is available in both 10-inch and 20-inch options, with the 20-inch filters providing greater capacity, longer filter life, and better flow rates.

Everyday issues it solves:

• Removes sediment and rust particles
• Reduces earthy, metallic, and sulfur odors, and helps remove iron from well water
  • KDF media traps iron and heavy metals
  • GAC media improves taste and odor
• Helps prevent hard water scale and buildup in plumbing
• Improves water clarity for drinking, cooking, and showers
• Protects water-using appliances from premature wear
• Enhances overall water taste throughout the home

Benefits & ease of use:

• Whole house water filter protects every tap
• Easy filter replacement without special tools
• Reliable, low-fuss performance for your home

This system uses a dual-stage design built for the demands of well water. The first stage is a pleated, washable sediment filter that traps sand, rust, and other particles far more efficiently than standard filters, and can be reused for extended service.

The second stage combines KDF and GAC. The GAC reduces chlorine, odors, and tastes, while the KDF targets heavy metals like iron, lead, and mercury and helps control bacterial growth. Together, these stages enhance water clarity, taste, and overall quality, while protecting your pipes and appliances from sediment and contaminants.

Together, these two media work to improve water clarity, taste, and overall quality throughout your home while protecting your pipes and appliances from sediment and contaminants.

A Quick System Comparison