another_jim wrote:A softener is totally wrong for water that is more alkaline than hard... ...Throw out the softener.

Ehm, Jim, the water here in Tucson is both alkaline and very hard, depending on which well you're pulling from. If you don't use a softener here, your boiler becomes a local stalagtite national forest within weeks! ; >
I've rehabbed a one year old steamtoy for a friend that had completely closed off the steamwand with buildup using tap water.

Once again:

-- A softener replaces magnesium/calcium with sodium/potassium.
-- The reason the OP's water is more alkaline than hard is because it already has a high sodium content. Softening it will make that worse. Moreover, softening will not reduce the high alkalinity or the overall mineral content
-- Yes, softening will work for preventing scale on such water, but it will make this already dicey tasting water worse, and will exacerbate any corrosion problems.

This water should be treated with reverse osmosis followed by a calcite cartridge.

Ah, OK, this makes more sense to me now. OTOH, I use a softener and have no issues with taste. Maybe ignorance is bliss, and I'm not changing anything that I don't perceive as broke! ; >