Doctors recommend that you drink eight glasses of water every day, but where you get your water is your choice. Bottled water has been getting a bad rep as environmental insiders push for reusable containers, but what are you supposed to fill these eco-friendly bottles with? Tap water?

East County is notorious for hard water that can smell and taste bad. While federal and state laws regulate water filtration standards, chlorine-cleaned tap water leaves something to be desired. But Delta Pure Water, Etc. in Brentwood has a solution.

Rather than use a water filter pitcher or a filtration system that hooks up directly to the faucet, Delta Pure Water, Etc. offers a salt-free filtration system that connects to your home’s main water source, cleaning all the water in your home in one step. The system is called Next Scale Stop.

The Next Scale Stop system uses template-assisted crystallization technology, which converts hard minerals in your tap water into harmless, inactive microscopic crystals that give water a fresh, clean flavor your nostrils and taste buds will appreciate.

“This is not a water softener,” said Delta Pure Water, Etc. owner Joe Trebino. “This system improves the tap water in all areas of your home. Hard water shortens the life of water-using appliances such as dishwashers and laundry machines. It clogs pipes and reduces flow rate in showerheads and faucets, but water treated with the Next Scale Stop system is filtered and clarified, which limits the side effects of hard water.”

While basic water filtration systems peddled by Brita and PUR are more popular, Trebino said the Next Scale Stop system is more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t use salt or other minerals to clean the water; thus it doesn’t introduce any new minerals to the water, altering its composition. The system also retains tap water’s beneficial minerals such as fluoride and calcium.

As chlorine is known to make hair brittle and dry out skin, limiting the amount of chlorine in the water is good for your skin and hair. The Next Scale Stop system enhances all the water outlets in your house, saving you the time, trouble – and cost – of installing special filters for each showerhead.

The Next Scale Stop system costs $2,295, which includes tax and labor at Delta Pure Water, Etc. Despite what appears to be a high price tag, Trebino believes it’s worth the investment. Unlike store-bought filters, which last through 100 gallons of water (good for only two to four months of use), the Next Scale Stop system is viable for up to 10 years.

Trebino has owned Delta Pure Water, Etc. for the past 17 years and offers an array of services to meet all your water needs. From water bottles and crocks to purified water for 30 cents a gallon, Delta Pure Water, Etc. does it all.

Delta Pure Water, Etc., located at 41 Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 925-634-6658.