The simplest filter can soften hard water, and that’s good for you and your baby, but it’s also good for your wallet and the environment. According to the Water Quality Research Council, hard water can clog pipes and appliances, reduce clothing longevity by 15 percent, leave a soapy film on bathtubs and shower tiles, and increase water heating costs by nearly 30 percent, while shortening the life of the heater. A water softener reduces the hardness of water, eliminating these problems and resulting in substantial savings.1