Lyon Township softener settings after the South Hill upgrade
Set your Lyon Township softener from measured inlet hardness—not a guessed township number. Learn what to adjust during South Hill commissioning.
Use the total hardness of the water entering your household softener, in the units your model requires. Lyon Township’s South Hill softening announcement does not specify a replacement hardness setting in grains per gallon (GPG), so it is not a basis for entering a guessed lower number. The township advises residents to have their home softening company check the setting. Township notice
What is changing in October 2026?
Lyon Township, Michigan, says its Woodwind plant has supplied softened water since 2023. The South Hill upgrade is intended to extend softened water throughout the township distribution system. Both plants use pellet reactors that remove calcium hardness by forming limestone pellets, without sodium chloride. That means lower hardness—not necessarily zero hardness. Township notice
The September 26, 2026 announcement scheduled South Hill’s startup for the third week of October, followed by three to four weeks of commissioning with blended water. As of October 26, that announced schedule is not confirmation that full commissioning is complete. Treat a hardness reading during startup as provisional and retest after the operator confirms stable operation. Dated announcement
This change concerns the township water distribution system. If your home uses a private well or another utility, base programming on that supply instead.
Find the number to enter
- Record your model and existing settings. Photograph the display before changing anything.
- Sample incoming cold water before your home softener. Use a confirmed upstream sampling point; do not assume an outdoor faucet bypasses the softener. A softened kitchen-tap result is not the inlet hardness needed for programming.
- Measure total hardness. A total-hardness drop-count kit measures calcium plus magnesium as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Calcium hardness alone is insufficient, especially when the township treatment specifically reduces calcium. Hach total-hardness guidance
- Convert units if needed: total hardness in mg/L as CaCO₃ ÷ 17.1 = GPG. For example, 171 mg/L = 10 GPG; this is an illustration, not a Lyon Township water result. Follow your model’s rounding and any iron-compensation instructions. GE owner’s manual
See how to measure hardness at home for sampling and test interpretation.
Change hardness—not every regeneration setting
| Control or system type | What to do after confirming lower inlet hardness |
|---|---|
| Hardness entry | Enter the measured inlet hardness using the model’s instructions. It is not a desired outlet-hardness setting. |
| Metered/demand-regenerated softener | Update hardness where the controller provides that input; do not substitute an arbitrary weekly schedule. |
| Fixed-day timer | Have the service provider recalculate the interval from water use, hardness and usable capacity. A timer will not detect the township’s hardness reduction. |
| Capacity, salt dose and cycle lengths | Leave these unchanged unless the model-specific setup is reviewed. Do not raise programmed grain capacity simply because inlet hardness is lower. |
For example, GE’s GXSF27E/GXSF31E manual directs owners to enter supply hardness in GPG and treats recharge start time as a separate setting. Other controls may use different menus. GE programming instructions
Keep usable grain capacity and salt dose paired: capacity is the hardness load a cycle can handle at that dose, while salt efficiency is grains removed per pound of salt. GE’s manual notes that changing its salt-efficiency mode changes regeneration frequency and the balance between salt and water use. Do not confuse that mode with the inlet-hardness entry. GE efficiency instructions EPA recommends considering both water and salt efficiency and favors demand-initiated regeneration over a fixed schedule. EPA technical guidance
After adjustment, compare incoming and treated cold-water hardness and watch for hardness returning before regeneration. Use this softener performance check.
For commissioning status and current distribution-water hardness information, the township lists Highland Treatment: 248-889-1922. Ask your softener provider to translate the confirmed inlet result into your model’s settings. Township operator contact