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A cream two-storey farmhouse with tall chimneys in evening sun, behind a board fence and old trees Photo: Rover9000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · modified

Whole-house guide · Updated Oct 31, 2026

Whole-house well water filters: which setup is yours?

Photo: Rover9000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · modified

Two setups cover most wells: an iron filter for stains or a rotten-egg smell, or carbon + UV for clean, low-iron water.

We may earn a commission if you buy through our links. It doesn't change the picks.

Illustration

Setup A Iron or sulfur

SpringWell WS1

$2,100 brand list price $2,625 Price checked Oct 31, 2026

  • Iron ≤ 7
  • H₂S ≤ 8
  • Mn ≤ 1 ppm1
Check price at SpringWell

Water test $134.25, added at checkout, not refundable. Free shipping to the lower 48.1, 2

Illustration

Setup B Low-iron water

Aquasana Rhino Well

$1,749 brand list price $3,498 Price checked Oct 31, 2026

  • Carbon + KDF
  • UV: NSF 55 Class B
  • ≤ 2.5 baths3, 4
Check price at Aquasana

90-day returns, full refund of the purchase price; you pay return shipping. Filters and lamp: about $274 a year.3, 5, 31, 32, 33

Independent guide · 35 sources, checked Oct 31, 2026 · How we make money

  • SpringWell tests your water first1, 2 System refunded if it doesn't fit; the $134.25 test isn't
  • Aquasana: 90-day returns5 Full refund of the purchase price; you pay return shipping
  • Warranties in writing7, 8 SpringWell: lifetime limited on valves and fittings, 10 years on mineral tanks 14″+. Aquasana: 5 years or 500,000 gallons
  • DIY or a plumber9, 10 SpringWell: DIY keeps the warranty. Aquasana recommends a licensed plumber

Match your water to a setup

Read your lab report, or what you see at the tap, against these two. Each is the better tool for one kind of water.

Setup A Stains or rotten-egg smell

  • Iron over 0.3 or manganese over 0.05 mg/L
  • Orange or black stains
  • Rotten-egg smell11, 12, 13
Illustration

SpringWell WS1 / WS4

$2,100 brand list price $2,625 WS1 sale price, checked Oct 31, 2026

  • Iron ≤ 7
  • H₂S ≤ 8
  • Mn ≤ 1 ppm1
  • One tank for iron, manganese and sulfur, within the stated limits1
  • Air injection: no chemicals, no cartridges, self-cleaning backwash1
  • WS1 for 1–4 bathrooms (12 GPM), WS4 for 4+ (20 GPM, $2,520)1
  • Needs an outlet that isn't on a switch, and a drain line14
Check price at SpringWell

Water test $134.25, added at checkout, not refundable. Free shipping to the lower 48.1, 2

Setup B Low-iron water, smaller home

  • Low iron, manganese and hardness
  • Taste or odor issues
  • No bacteria
  • Up to 2.5 baths10, 15, 16
Illustration

Aquasana Rhino Well with UV

$1,749 brand list price $3,498 Sale price, checked Oct 31, 2026

  • Carbon + KDF
  • UV: NSF 55 Class B
  • ≤ 2.5 baths3, 4
  • Pre-filter, carbon + KDF tank and a UV stage in one kit3
  • UV certified to NSF/ANSI 55 Class B: a safeguard, not for disinfecting unsafe water4, 21
  • Rated 7 GPM (14.7 peak), for up to 2.5 bathrooms and 4 people3, 10
  • No drain line; the UV needs a grounded outlet3, 16
Check price at Aquasana

90-day returns, full refund of the purchase price; you pay return shipping. Filters and lamp: about $274 a year.3, 5, 31, 32, 33

  • Setup C Nitrate, arsenic, uranium or PFAS Usually reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap, about $300–1,500, not whole-house.15 Neither system here claims to remove nitrate or arsenic. What works
  • Bacteria Coliform or E. coli in your test Neither system is certified to disinfect unsafe water. Fix the source and shock-chlorinate; if bacteria return, UV certified to NSF/ANSI 55 Class A.18, 21
Compare them side by side 9 specs
SpringWell WS1 / WS4Aquasana Rhino Well with UV
Main jobIron ≤ 7, H₂S ≤ 8, manganese ≤ 1 ppm (stated)Carbon + KDF and UV; no iron or sulfur filter
Home sizeWS1: 1–4 baths · WS4: 4+Up to 2.5 baths / 4 people
Flow12 / 20 GPM (manual: 18)7 GPM rated, 14.7 peak; UV certified at 6 GPM
CertificationNo NSF listing foundUV: NSF/ANSI 55 Class B
Price, checked Oct 31, 2026$2,100 / $2,520 + $134.25 test$1,749 (list $3,498)
UpkeepNo cartridges; power and drainAbout $274 a year in filters and lamp; $849 tank every 5 years
Water testRequired, fit checked before it shipsNot required
Returns6 months, unused only, 10% fee90 days, full refund; install labor not covered
InstallDIY keeps the warrantyLicensed plumber recommended

From the makers' pages, manuals and policies, and NSF's listings; Aquasana's upkeep is our arithmetic from its replacement prices.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33

Stages go in a fixed order

Each stage protects the next. You only install the stages your test calls for. Full setup guide

  1. Sediment filter Catches sand, silt and clay ahead of the softener and UV22, 23 Part of Setup B
  2. Neutralizer Only if pH is low; pH is corrected before other treatment12, 18, 26 If pH is low
  3. Iron & sulfur filter Turns iron, manganese and H₂S into particles, then filters them out13, 22 Setup A: the WS
  4. Carbon Taste, odor and chemicals22 Setup B: Rhino tank
  5. Softener Only if hard; after the iron filter, or iron fouls the resin12, 23 If hard
  6. UV, last Needs clear, low-iron water to work21, 22 Part of Setup B
  7. RO at the kitchen tap For nitrate, arsenic or PFAS in the water you drink15 Drinking water only
Cutaway of a farmhouse on a private well: water rises from the pump in the well, enters the basement, passes the pressure tank and then the treatment stages in order: 1 sediment filter, 2 neutralizer if pH is low, 3 iron and sulfur filter, 4 carbon, 5 softener if the water is hard, 6 UV last; then up to the kitchen tap, where 7 reverse osmosis sits under the sink. Groundwater Well Pump 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pressure tank Kitchen tap Cutaway of a farmhouse on a private well: water rises from the pump, enters the basement, passes the pressure tank and then the treatment stages in order: 1 sediment filter, 2 neutralizer if pH is low, 3 iron and sulfur filter, 4 carbon, 5 softener if hard, 6 UV last; then up to the kitchen tap, where 7 reverse osmosis sits under the sink. Groundwater Well Pump 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pressure tank

Size it for your peak flow

Each stage has to keep up with your home's peak demand. Nebraska Extension's minimums:24

  • 10 GPM 2 bed / 2 bath
  • 12 GPM 3 bed / 2 bath
  • 16 GPM 4 bed / 3 bath

Add 2 GPM for each extra bedroom or bath.24

Rated flow, as the makers state it

  • SpringWell WS4 20 GPM (manual: 18)1, 14
  • SpringWell WS1 12 GPM1
  • Aquasana Rhino Well 7 GPM rated, 14.7 peak3
Dashed lines: the minimums on the left. Aquasana sizes the Rhino Well for up to 2.5 baths and 4 people.10

No lab report yet? Start with what you see

Tap all that apply. Stains and a rotten-egg smell point to Setup A; the WS handles each within limits.

Signs in your water
More signs (4)

Tick what you see. Nothing is sent anywhere.

No stains or smell, but the taste is off? That's Setup B, once a test shows low iron and hardness. Both setups

What each setup costs, all in

Each checkout, and what comes after.

SpringWell order, price checked Oct 31, 20261

SpringWell WS1 list $2,625
$2,100
Water test, required not refundable
$134.25
Bypass valve pre-added, removable
$58.79
At checkout $2,234.25 without the bypass
$2,293.04
Install
DIY or a plumber9
Running
Power and backwash water, no cartridges14

Aquasana order, price checked Oct 31, 20263

Rhino Well with UV list $3,498
$1,749
Water test not required
—
Bypass kit optional, PEX not included
$124
At checkout $1,873 with the bypass kit
$1,749
Install
Licensed plumber recommended10
Running
About $274 a year in filters and lamp; tank $849 every 5 years3, 6, 31, 32, 33

For scale: Minnesota's health department, whole house, DIY to installed15

  • $1,500–3,000Oxidizing filter
  • $500–3,000Activated carbon
  • $250–800UV

Before you buy

A galvanised well pressure tank and pump on a concrete pad in warm evening sun Photo: W.carter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified
Which one should I buy?

The one that matches your test. Minnesota's health department puts it plainly: "No single treatment unit can remove all contaminants." Iron, manganese or a rotten-egg smell: an oxidizing filter such as the SpringWell WS. Clean, low-iron water with taste or odor issues in a home of up to 2.5 bathrooms: carbon with UV, such as the Aquasana Rhino Well.

Which one is easier to return?

Aquasana: 90 days from the order, full refund of the purchase price (not shipping) when the whole system comes back; installation labor isn't covered and you pay return shipping. SpringWell: 6 months, but only unused and uninstalled, with a 10% restocking fee; installed systems only if defective. SpringWell, however, checks your water test before it ships.

Can I install it myself?

SpringWell says a DIY install keeps its warranty; the WS needs an outlet and a drain line. Aquasana strongly recommends a licensed plumber, and some local codes may require one.

Do I need a softener as well?

Only if your water is hard. Penn State Extension notes that hardness below 7 grains per gallon rarely causes major scaling. A softener goes after the iron filter, because oxidized iron fouls softener resin. UV systems also need hardness below 7 gpg.

Does a whole-house filter remove bacteria?

Filters don't disinfect. If your test shows coliform or E. coli, find and fix the source and shock-chlorinate; for recurring bacteria use UV certified to NSF/ANSI 55 Class A or continuous chlorination. Aquasana's UV is certified Class B, which is meant as a safeguard, not for unsafe water.

What about nitrate, arsenic or PFAS?

These matter mainly in the water you drink, so they're usually treated at the kitchen tap with reverse osmosis, or adsorptive media for arsenic. Minnesota's health department puts a tap unit at about $300–1,500 and whole-house reverse osmosis at $5,000–12,000. Neither system on this page claims nitrate or arsenic removal.

Do you get paid if I buy?

Possibly: links marked paid link can earn us a commission at no cost to you. It doesn't change which setup we point you to. How we make money.

Answers from the makers' product pages, manuals and policies, NSF's listings, and extension and state health guidance.2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 30

Know which setup you need?

Iron or sulfur: the SpringWell WS, and your water is tested before it ships. Low-iron water, smaller home: the Aquasana Rhino Well.1, 10

Illustration

Setup A Iron or sulfur

SpringWell WS1

$2,100 brand list price $2,625 Price checked Oct 31, 2026

Check price at SpringWell
Illustration

Setup B Low-iron water

Aquasana Rhino Well

$1,749 brand list price $3,498 Price checked Oct 31, 2026

Check price at Aquasana

Testing first? A certified lab such as UW–Stevens Point charges $153 for a basic panel plus metals29; SpringWell's required $134.25 test is added to the order1.

Order with SpringWell's test How to test independently

A warm wood-panelled bathroom with a round vessel sink and a glass shower Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0 · modified
Sources (35) · checked Oct 31, 2026
  1. SpringWell: Whole House Well Water Filter System (WS1/WS4) product page (seen 2026-10-31)
  2. SpringWell: Shipping, returns and refunds (free shipping to the continental US only) (seen 2026-10-31)
  3. Aquasana: Rhino Well Water with UV product page (seen 2026-10-31)
  4. NSF listings: NSF certified drinking water treatment units: Aquasana (seen 2026-10-31)
  5. Aquasana: Refunds and returns (seen 2026-10-31)
  6. Aquasana: Rhino Well Water replacement tank (seen 2026-10-31)
  7. SpringWell: Warranty (seen 2026-10-31)
  8. Aquasana warranty: WH-WELL-UV warranty (PDF) (seen 2026-10-31)
  9. SpringWell: ULTRA Well Water Filter + Salt-Free combo (seen 2026-10-31)
  10. Aquasana FAQ: Rhino Well Water FAQ (seen 2026-10-31)
  11. EPA: EPA, Secondary Drinking Water Standards (2026-05-26; checked 2026-10-31)
  12. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems (2025-05-29; checked 2026-10-31)
  13. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Hydrogen Sulfide in Water Wells (2024-12-10; checked 2026-10-31)
  14. SpringWell manual: WS1/WS4 installation instructions (PDF) (seen 2026-10-31)
  15. Minnesota Dept. of Health: Minnesota Dept. of Health, Home Water Treatment fact sheet (rev. 2024-03-29; checked 2026-10-31)
  16. Aquasana UV manual: AQ-UV-SF/MF installation manual (PDF) (seen 2026-10-31)
  17. Aquasana manual: WH-WELL-UV installation manual (PDF) (seen 2026-10-31)
  18. UGA Extension: UGA Ext. Bulletin 939, Water Quality and Common Treatments for Private Drinking Water Systems (2026-07-01; checked 2026-10-31)
  19. CDC: CDC, About Choosing Home Water Filters (2024-04-10; checked 2026-10-31)
  20. NSF listings: NSF certified drinking water treatment units: search for SpringWell (seen 2026-10-31)
  21. Ohio Dept. of Health: Ohio Dept. of Health, UV Light for Continuous Disinfection (rev. July 2011; checked 2026-10-31)
  22. Virginia Cooperative Extension: Virginia Tech/VCE 442-670, Household Water Treatment (2024-10-22; checked 2026-10-31)
  23. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Water Softening (2025-09-08; checked 2026-10-31)
  24. Nebraska Extension: Univ. Nebraska–Lincoln G2149, Planning for Water Use (May 2012; checked 2026-10-31)
  25. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Iron and Sulfur Bacteria (2024-09-16; checked 2026-10-31)
  26. Connecticut DPH: Connecticut DPH, Publication 18: pH-Acidity of Private Wells (May 2009; checked 2026-10-31)
  27. CDC: CDC, Guidelines for Testing Well Water (2024-07-01; checked 2026-10-31)
  28. EPA: EPA, Protect Your Home's Water (2026-02-26; checked 2026-10-31)
  29. UW–Stevens Point lab: UW–Stevens Point WEAL, 2026 Analysis Price List (valid to 2026-12-31; checked 2026-10-31)
  30. Aquasana: 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee (PDF; installation labor not covered) (seen 2026-10-31)
  31. Aquasana: 20" Pre-Filter Replacement, 3 pack ($36.99; each lasts up to 2 months) (seen 2026-10-31)
  32. Aquasana: Post-Filter Replacement ($36.99; 6 months) (seen 2026-10-31)
  33. Aquasana: UV Replacement Lamp ($125.99; 12 months) (seen 2026-10-31)
  34. UGA Extension: UGA Ext. C858-4, Shock Chlorination (2026-04-17; checked 2026-10-31)
  35. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Testing Your Drinking Water (2025-06-02; checked 2026-10-31)