Abstract: Aspects of embodiments relate to a method for treating water received at a treatment system. The method may include reducing the hardness of the water by subjecting the water to electrolysis by an electrolytic hardness reducer; and substantially removing disinfectant from the water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light by a UV disinfectant reducer. The method may further include sanitizing the electrolytic hardness reducer and/or sanitizing the UV disinfectant reducing apparatus by running hot water through either one or both of them.