As a resident of Wayland, you may want to consider a water filtration system that will remove water hardness, chlorine and possibly fluoride. Although the town removes many contaminants from the water supply in its filtration process, there are some additions to the water supply that you may want to remove prior to drinking (chlorine for disinfection of microorganisms and fluoride -controversial – see article on Fluoride in Drinking Water at http://www.watertechonline.com/). For information on the town water supply test results, see the link at annual water quality reports.
Systems can be installed for overall quality improvement or for the removal of any of the potential causes of symptoms you may be experiencing. Water softeners are typically installed to remove hardness minerals (magnesium & calcium) and dissolved iron or manganese through a technology called Ion Exchange. To remove particulate matter, a properly sized sediment filter is required. Chlorine can be removed with a carbon filtration system to remove bad taste and odor.
Any system recommendation should start with a water test before an informed decision can be made. To determine what type of water testing to have performed and how to take a proper sample, call a water treatment professional or a state certified laboratory.
In summary, controlling your home’s water quality is attainable through proper water testing and equipment specification with today’s available water filtration technologies at a reasonable price. Proper on-going maintenance is also critical to maintain a consistent level of great water quality.