I searched through the Google usenet archive and found the thread on water softeners.
Culligan, Waterside, Ecowater, Atlantis were mentioned as good makes.
Atlantis's web-site states that Waterside have now been taken over by Culligan. The Atlantis site seems very flashy and makes great play of how clever the salt-fill lid is which seems rather trivial to me. It also claims that their model is a development forwards from the Culligan models but doesn't say in what way, (other than the lid!).
A local supplier sells Monarch but these weren't mentioned in the thread. What do people think of them? They seem to be the only manufacturer to offer a 5 year (parts) guarantee.
Ecowater claim to have more softeners in UK homes than any other manufacturer but costs more than the others. The EASE telephone reporting system seems to be a gimmick.
I'd be grateful for comments.
Thanks.