Best Water Softener for Phoenix, AZ — 17 Things to Know BEFORE You Buy!

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

1. The Local Water Problem in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix homeowners replace water heaters 40% more often than the national average, and the culprit isn't Arizona's scorching heat — it's what's inside their pipes. The city's water supply, sourced primarily from the Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project, delivers water measuring 12.3 grains per gallon (GPG) of hardness to Phoenix taps. To understand what 12.3 GPG means, imagine your water system as a construction site where calcium and magnesium act like wet cement — they flow invisibly until heat or evaporation hardens them into permanent, damaging deposits throughout your home's plumbing infrastructure.

At 12.3 GPG, Phoenix water is classified as "very hard" by EPA standards, placing it in the top 15% of hardest municipal water supplies in the United States. Each gallon flowing through your Phoenix home carries dissolved calcium carbonate equivalent to nearly two teaspoons of chalk powder. When this mineral-saturated water encounters heat from your water heater, dishwasher, or washing machine, those dissolved minerals crystallize into scale deposits that accumulate relentlessly, day after day, month after month.

The financial implications for Phoenix families are staggering. A typical Phoenix household unknowingly pays an extra $1,200-$1,800 annually in what water quality experts call the "hard water tax" — a combination of increased energy bills, premature appliance replacement, excessive soap and detergent purchases, and costly plumbing repairs. This isn't a distant problem that might affect your home someday; at 12.3 GPG, mineral damage begins accumulating from the moment you turn on your first faucet.

Phoenix's desert climate compounds the hardness problem through rapid evaporation that concentrates minerals even further. When hard water evaporates from surfaces — your shower doors, faucet aerators, dishwasher interior, or coffee maker reservoir — it leaves behind concentrated calcium and magnesium deposits that become progressively more difficult to remove. The combination of 12.3 GPG baseline hardness plus Arizona's evaporation rate creates a mineral accumulation environment unlike anywhere else in the country.

2. What 12.3 GPG Does to Your Home

At 12.3 GPG, calcium carbonate forms a concrete-like coating on your water heater's heating elements within the first six months of operation. This scale acts as insulation, forcing your water heater to work exponentially harder to transfer heat through the mineral barrier. Independent testing shows that Phoenix water at 12.3 GPG reduces water heater efficiency by 15-20% in the first year and up to 35-40% by year three. For a standard 40-gallon electric water heater, this translates to an extra $200-300 annually in electricity costs, plus shortened equipment lifespan from 8-10 years down to 5-6 years.

Inside your home's plumbing system, 12.3 GPG hardness creates a mineral accumulation process similar to arterial plaque buildup. When Phoenix's mineral-laden water flows through pipes, calcium and magnesium ions bond to pipe walls, forming concentric rings of scale that gradually narrow the interior diameter. In homes with galvanized steel plumbing — common in Phoenix neighborhoods built before 1980 — this process accelerates dramatically. The rough interior surface of aging galvanized pipes provides ideal nucleation sites for mineral crystallization.

Phoenix homeowners typically notice measurable water pressure reduction within 18-24 months in homes with original galvanized plumbing. Copper pipes, more common in Phoenix homes built after 1980, develop scale buildup more slowly but still show significant mineral accumulation within 3-4 years at 12.3 GPG. The desert's temperature extremes worsen this process — when summer ground temperatures exceed 100°F, underground pipes expand and contract, creating microscopic surface irregularities where scale deposits anchor and grow.

Appliance manufacturers specifically void warranties for tankless water heaters operated without water softening in areas exceeding 7 GPG hardness. At Phoenix's 12.3 GPG, mineral buildup clogs the narrow heat exchanger passages in tankless units within 6-8 months. Dishwashers develop permanent etching on interior glass surfaces and spray arm clogs that reduce cleaning effectiveness by 40-50%. Washing machines experience premature pump failure, and the heating elements in electric models fail 60% sooner than in soft water areas.

The soap and detergent waste at 12.3 GPG hardness is mathematically predictable and financially significant. Calcium and magnesium ions react with soap molecules to form insoluble curds rather than cleaning lather. Phoenix families require 3-4 times more laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, and body wash compared to soft water areas. For a typical four-person Phoenix household, this represents approximately $400-500 annually in unnecessary cleaning product purchases.

Phoenix residents consistently report skin dryness, hair brittleness, and scalp irritation that correlates directly with the city's 12.3 GPG water hardness. Calcium ions strip natural oils from skin and hair, while mineral residue creates a film that blocks moisturizer absorption. Children and adults with eczema or sensitive skin conditions experience measurably worse symptoms during Phoenix's low-humidity months when hard water effects compound with dry desert air.

3. Phoenix's Specific Contaminant Profile

Beyond the 12.3 GPG hardness baseline, Phoenix water contains three additional contaminants that interact with mineral deposits in ways that compound both problems. The city's water treatment process and distribution infrastructure introduce chlorine, fluoride, and sediment — each creating unique challenges when combined with very hard water conditions.

Chlorine in Phoenix Water

Phoenix adds chlorine as a primary disinfectant at treatment plants, with residual levels ranging from 1.5-3.0 mg/L depending on seasonal demand and distribution distance. Chlorine enters Phoenix's water supply as sodium hypochlorite during the treatment process at the Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project facilities. The chemical serves as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, but its interaction with 12.3 GPG hardness creates secondary problems throughout your home's plumbing system.

At 12.3 GPG hardness, calcium deposits provide protective harbors where chlorine-resistant bacteria colonies can establish and multiply. Scale buildup in water heaters, pipe joints, and appliance reservoirs creates anaerobic micro-environments where chlorine effectiveness diminishes significantly. Phoenix residents often notice stronger chlorine taste and odor during summer months when water temperature increases and chlorine reacts more aggressively with dissolved minerals and organic compounds.

Chlorine degrades rubber gaskets, seals, and O-rings throughout your plumbing system — a process accelerated by mineral scale that holds chlorinated water in contact with vulnerable components longer than in soft water systems. The SoftPro Elite HE water softener alone does not remove chlorine. Phoenix homeowners concerned about chlorine taste, odor, or material degradation should consider pairing the softener with an activated carbon whole-house filter downstream of the softening system.

Fluoride in Phoenix Water

Phoenix intentionally adds fluoride to treated water at 0.7 mg/L as a public health measure, well below the EPA's maximum contaminant level of 4.0 mg/L. Fluoride enters the water supply as fluorosilicic acid during the final treatment stage before distribution. Unlike naturally occurring fluoride found in some groundwater sources, Phoenix's fluoride addition is carefully controlled and monitored to maintain consistent therapeutic levels throughout the distribution system.

Fluoride does not interact chemically with calcium and magnesium hardness minerals, but the presence of 12.3 GPG hardness can affect fluoride's bioavailability and taste perception. Some Phoenix residents report a metallic or bitter aftertaste that results from the combination of fluoride and dissolved minerals rather than fluoride alone. This taste profile is most noticeable in coffee, tea, and other beverages where mineral content affects flavor extraction.

Water softeners, including the SoftPro Elite HE, do not remove fluoride from water. The ion exchange process that eliminates calcium and magnesium hardness does not affect fluoride ions. Phoenix families who prefer fluoride-free water for drinking and cooking should consider installing a reverse osmosis system at the kitchen tap in addition to the whole-house water softener.

Sediment in Phoenix Water

Phoenix's water distribution system experiences periodic sediment events from aging infrastructure, main breaks, and maintenance activities that stir up accumulated particulate matter. The city's extensive pipe network, much of which was installed during Phoenix's rapid growth periods in the 1960s-1980s, contains sections of aging cast iron and concrete pipe that generate iron oxide particles, concrete fragments, and mineral scale debris.

Sediment problems in Phoenix intensify during monsoon season when increased water demand and pressure fluctuations dislodge accumulated deposits from pipe walls. The combination of sediment and 12.3 GPG hardness creates a compounding problem — suspended particles provide nucleation sites for accelerated mineral crystallization, while mineral scale traps sediment particles, creating abrasive compounds that damage appliance components.

Sediment accumulation fouls water softener resin beds more rapidly in very hard water areas like Phoenix. The SoftPro Elite HE includes a self-cleaning sediment pre-filter specifically designed to protect the resin tank from particulate contamination. This feature is operationally essential rather than merely convenient for Phoenix installations, where both sediment and 12.3 GPG hardness stress the softening system continuously.

4. Why Most Phoenix Homeowners Pick the Wrong Softener

Phoenix's big-box home improvement stores sell thousands of undersized water softeners every year to well-intentioned homeowners who make purchasing decisions based on price rather than performance capacity. The most expensive mistake Phoenix families make is buying a 24,000 or 32,000-grain softener that seems adequate for their household size but cannot handle continuous 12.3 GPG demand. These undersized units exhaust their resin capacity within 2-3 days, leaving Phoenix homes with untreated hard water flowing through the system 60-70% of the time.

The second critical error involves confusing water softeners with water filters — two completely different technologies that solve different problems. Softeners use ion exchange resin to remove calcium and magnesium hardness minerals. They do not reliably remove chlorine, fluoride, or sediment from Phoenix water. Residents dealing with both 12.3 GPG hardness and taste/odor concerns need a properly sequenced two-stage approach: softening first to protect downstream equipment, followed by activated carbon filtration for chlorine removal.

Homeowner Checklist

• Test your current water hardness with a reliable strip kit — confirm you're actually dealing with 12.3 GPG
• Calculate your household's daily grain demand using the formula in Section 6
• Identify whether you need chlorine removal in addition to softening
• Measure your available installation space and drain access before shopping
• Get quotes from three local dealers — avoid door-to-door sales presentations

The third mistake involves ignoring grain capacity mathematics and regeneration frequency. Phoenix homeowners need to understand that water softener capacity isn't just about how many people live in your house — it's about how many grains of hardness your system must remove daily. A four-person family in Phoenix using 300 gallons daily at 12.3 GPG hardness requires removal of 3,690 grains per day. Most homeowners never run this calculation and end up with systems that regenerate every 1-2 days, wasting salt and water while delivering inconsistent performance.

The fourth costly error is overlooking salt efficiency ratings when comparing softener models. At 12.3 GPG hardness, Phoenix softeners regenerate more frequently than units in moderate hardness areas. An inefficient system can use 8-12 pounds of salt per regeneration cycle, while high-efficiency models like the SoftPro Elite HE use 6-8 pounds for the same grain removal. Over a 10-year service life in Phoenix, this efficiency difference compounds into $800-1,200 in unnecessary salt purchases and waste disposal.

5. The SoftPro Elite HE: Built for Phoenix's Water

After evaluating Phoenix's water hardness of 12.3 GPG and the presence of chlorine, fluoride, and sediment in the local supply, one system consistently rises to the top for Phoenix homeowners: the SoftPro Elite HE Water Softener. This recommendation isn't based on marketing claims or manufacturer relationships — it's the logical engineering solution to the specific challenges that 12.3 GPG hardness creates in desert climate conditions.

Salt-Based Ion Exchange for 12.3 GPG Performance

Salt-free water conditioning systems marketed as "softeners" do not actually remove calcium and magnesium from Phoenix water — they attempt to change mineral crystal structure to reduce scale adhesion. This template alteration conditioning (TAC) approach fails consistently at hardness levels exceeding 10 GPG. Phoenix homeowners who install salt-free systems continue experiencing scale buildup, appliance damage, and soap waste because the calcium and magnesium minerals remain in the water at full 12.3 GPG concentration.

The SoftPro Elite HE uses proven cation exchange resin to physically remove calcium and magnesium ions from Phoenix water, replacing them with sodium ions that do not form scale deposits. This is the only technology that delivers genuinely soft water — typically 0.5-1.0 GPG after treatment — capable of preventing scale formation and reversing existing mineral buildup in your Phoenix home's plumbing system.

Demand-Initiated Regeneration for Phoenix Efficiency

At 12.3 GPG hardness, softener resin beds exhaust their capacity faster than in moderate hardness areas, making regeneration timing critical for consistent performance. Traditional timer-based systems regenerate on fixed schedules regardless of actual water usage, leading to either hard water breakthrough during high-demand periods or unnecessary salt and water waste during low-usage times.

The SoftPro Elite HE's demand-initiated regeneration (DIR) monitors actual water usage and resin capacity depletion, regenerating only when the system approaches true exhaustion. For Phoenix households managing 12.3 GPG hardness, this intelligent control prevents the hard water breakthrough that damages appliances and eliminates the over-regeneration that wastes salt and increases operating costs.

NSF/ANSI Standard 44 Certified Components

Certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 44 verifies that the SoftPro Elite HE's resin and control components meet rigorous performance and materials safety standards. For Phoenix residents already managing chlorine, fluoride, and sediment challenges, knowing that the softening process itself doesn't introduce additional contaminants or leach harmful substances is operationally essential.

The certification also validates capacity claims and efficiency ratings that directly impact operating costs in high-hardness areas like Phoenix. Non-certified systems often deliver 60-70% of advertised capacity in real-world conditions, leaving Phoenix homeowners with undersized performance when they need it most.

Multiple Grain Capacity Options for Phoenix Households

The SoftPro Elite HE offers 32,000, 48,000, 64,000, and 80,000-grain capacity models, allowing precise matching to Phoenix household demand without over-sizing or under-sizing. Proper capacity selection ensures regeneration every 5-7 days for optimal salt efficiency while maintaining consistent soft water delivery during Phoenix's high-demand summer months.

For a typical four-person Phoenix household using 300 gallons daily at 12.3 GPG hardness, the 48,000-grain model provides the ideal balance of capacity and efficiency. This sizing delivers 6-day regeneration cycles under normal usage while providing reserve capacity for guests, seasonal irrigation, or other high-demand periods common in Phoenix homes.

10-Year Warranty Protection

Phoenix's 12.3 GPG hardness subjects softener resin to continuous heavy-duty mineral removal that accelerates normal wear compared to moderate hardness areas. The SoftPro Elite HE's 10-year comprehensive warranty provides Phoenix homeowners with protection during the decade of highest mineral stress, covering both resin replacement and control system repairs that might result from demanding operating conditions.

Self-Cleaning Sediment Pre-Filter

The integrated sediment pre-filter captures particulate matter from Phoenix's aging distribution system before it reaches the softener resin bed. This upstream protection is essential in Phoenix, where both sediment and 12.3 GPG hardness stress the system simultaneously. The self-cleaning design eliminates manual filter replacement while protecting resin life in a city where both particulate and mineral challenges are present daily.

Recommended Setup for Phoenix

• Install SoftPro Elite HE after main water shutoff, before water heater
• Use high-purity evaporated salt pellets for maximum efficiency at 12.3 GPG
• Set regeneration for every 5-7 days based on household size
• Consider adding activated carbon post-filter if chlorine taste/odor is objectionable
• Test water hardness monthly during first year to confirm consistent performance

For Phoenix households dealing with 12.3 GPG of water hardness and the compounding presence of chlorine, fluoride, and sediment, the SoftPro Elite HE is not a comfort upgrade — it is infrastructure protection for your home.

6. How to Size Your Softener for Phoenix

Proper softener sizing for Phoenix's 12.3 GPG hardness requires precise calculation rather than guesswork based on household size alone. The following step-by-step formula accounts for Phoenix's specific mineral load and ensures your system regenerates every 5-7 days for optimal salt efficiency and consistent performance.

Step 1: Count household members — include all permanent residents, frequent guests, and seasonal occupants

Step 2: Multiply by 75 gallons per person per day (standard usage estimate that accounts for Phoenix's higher water consumption during summer months)

Step 3: Multiply household gallons × 12.3 GPG = daily grain demand

Step 4: Multiply daily grain demand × 7 = weekly grain demand

Step 5: Add 20% buffer for high-usage days (pool filling, landscape watering, house guests)

Step 6: Match total to SoftPro Elite HE grain tier (32K / 48K / 64K / 80K)

Here's the calculation worked out for a four-person Phoenix household:

4 people × 75 gallons = 300 gallons daily
300 gallons × 12.3 GPG = 3,690 grains daily
3,690 grains × 7 days = 25,830 grains weekly
25,830 grains + 20% buffer = 31,000 grains needed
Recommendation: 48,000-grain SoftPro Elite HE

This sizing delivers regeneration every 6-7 days under normal usage while providing adequate reserve capacity for Phoenix's variable water demands. Regenerating every 5-7 days optimizes salt efficiency — more frequent regeneration wastes salt and water, while less frequent regeneration risks hard water breakthrough that damages appliances and reduces cleaning effectiveness.

7. Installation in Phoenix: What to Know

Arizona does not require licensed plumber installation for residential water softeners, but Phoenix's desert conditions and local building practices create specific installation considerations. The system must be placed after your home's main water shutoff valve but before the water heater to protect all heated water appliances from 12.3 GPG mineral damage.

Phoenix homes typically operate at 45-65 PSI municipal water pressure, which falls within the SoftPro Elite HE's optimal operating range of 25-80 PSI. However, desert temperature extremes require careful attention to installation location — avoid areas where ambient temperatures exceed 100°F regularly, such as uninsulated garages or outdoor utility areas exposed to direct Arizona sun.

The regeneration process requires a drain line connection to discharge brine waste water during cleaning cycles. Phoenix municipal code allows softener discharge to connect to laundry drains, utility sinks, or dedicated drain lines, but not to septic systems (rare in Phoenix) or landscape irrigation lines. Plan for 15-20 gallons of discharge water per regeneration cycle when designing drain capacity.

At 12.3 GPG hardness levels, use only high-purity evaporated salt pellets in your brine tank — avoid rock salt, solar crystals, or additives that can create brine tank residue. Evaporated pellets dissolve completely and contain fewer impurities that could interfere with resin performance during heavy mineral removal cycles common in Phoenix installations.

Salt consumption in Phoenix averages 40-60 pounds monthly for a four-person household due to frequent regeneration cycles required by 12.3 GPG hardness. Plan storage space for 2-3 months of salt supply and establish a delivery schedule with local suppliers to avoid running out during peak summer demand periods when softener usage increases.

8. Maintenance Schedule for Phoenix Homeowners

Phoenix's 12.3 GPG hardness accelerates normal softener maintenance requirements compared to moderate hardness areas. The following schedule prevents performance degradation and extends system life under demanding mineral removal conditions.

Monthly Tasks

Check salt level in brine tank — consumption is high at Phoenix's 12.3 GPG hardness, typically requiring 40-60 pounds monthly for a four-person household. Salt should cover the water level in the brine tank but not exceed 6 inches above water line. Inspect for salt bridges — a hard crust formation above the water line that prevents proper brine formation and blocks regeneration.

Confirm the bypass valve remains in the "service" position. Phoenix residents sometimes switch to bypass during summer months to avoid salt taste, inadvertently allowing 12.3 GPG hardness to damage appliances and create scale buildup.

Every Three Months

Clean the brine tank and check for salt residue accumulation. Phoenix's frequent regeneration cycles can create mineral buildup in the brine tank that interferes with proper salt dissolution. Remove undissolved salt, scrub tank walls, and refill with fresh evaporated pellets.

Test post-softener water hardness using test strips to confirm output remains under 1 GPG. If hardness creeps above 1 GPG, the resin may be approaching exhaustion or experiencing fouling from sediment or iron contamination.

Inspect and clean the sediment pre-filter if present. Phoenix's aging distribution system generates particulate that can clog pre-filter screens and reduce water flow through the softener system.

Annual Deep Maintenance

Perform complete brine tank cleaning and sanitization. Remove all salt, scrub interior surfaces with mild bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and refill with fresh salt. This prevents bacterial growth and eliminates accumulated impurities that reduce system efficiency.

Conduct resin bed performance evaluation by testing hardness removal capacity. If post-softener hardness exceeds 1 GPG consistently despite proper salt levels and recent regeneration, the resin may need cleaning or replacement due to Phoenix's demanding mineral removal conditions.

Audit regeneration cycle timing and salt dosage settings. Phoenix households may need to adjust regeneration frequency seasonally as water usage varies with landscape irrigation and pool maintenance schedules.

30-Day Action Plan

• Week 1: Test current water hardness and confirm 12.3 GPG baseline
• Week 2: Measure installation space and identify drain line routing
• Week 3: Get three local dealer quotes and compare grain capacity recommendations
• Week 4: Schedule installation and arrange salt delivery service

Phoenix residents should order a comprehensive home water test kit, establish baseline hardness and contaminant readings before installation, and retest 30 days after system startup to confirm the SoftPro Elite HE is performing optimally under local water conditions.

9. Is Phoenix's Water at 12.3 GPG Dangerous to Drink?

Phoenix water at 12.3 GPG hardness is not dangerous to consume — the EPA sets no health-based limits on calcium and magnesium content because these minerals are nutritionally beneficial. However, the practical problems of 12.3 GPG hardness — appliance damage, increased energy costs, skin irritation, and cleaning inefficiency — make water softening a sound financial and comfort investment rather than a health necessity.

10. Will a Water Softener Remove Chlorine from Phoenix Water?

No, the SoftPro Elite HE water softener does not remove chlorine from Phoenix's treated water supply. Softeners use ion exchange to eliminate calcium and magnesium hardness minerals but do not affect chlorine, fluoride, or other chemical additives. Phoenix residents concerned about chlorine taste, odor, or effects should install an activated carbon filter downstream of the softener system.

11. How Much Salt Will I Use Per Month in Phoenix at 12.3 GPG?

A typical four-person Phoenix household requires 40-60 pounds of salt monthly due to frequent regeneration cycles necessitated by 12.3 GPG hardness. Salt consumption varies with actual water usage but averages 10-15 pounds per regeneration cycle. With regeneration every 5-7 days, expect 6-8 regeneration cycles monthly, totaling 60-120 pounds for larger households or high water usage periods.

12. Does Phoenix Require a Permit to Install a Water Softener?

Phoenix does not require building permits for residential water softener installation, and Arizona law prohibits municipalities from banning water softeners. However, installation must comply with local plumbing codes regarding drain connections and backflow prevention. Professional installation ensures code compliance and optimal performance in Phoenix's demanding water conditions.

13. Why Does Soft Water Feel Slippery in the Shower?

Soft water feels slippery because it allows soap to create actual lather instead of reacting with calcium and magnesium to form sticky soap scum. Phoenix residents accustomed to 12.3 GPG hardness initially notice the difference as "slippery" sensation, but this indicates the soap is actually cleaning your skin rather than forming mineral deposits that block pore function and moisture absorption.

14. How Quickly Will I See Results After Installing a Softener in Phoenix?

Phoenix homeowners notice immediate improvements in soap lather and reduced spotting on dishes within 24-48 hours of SoftPro Elite HE installation. Appliance efficiency improvements develop over 2-3 months as existing scale deposits gradually dissolve. Skin and hair improvements typically appear within 1-2 weeks as mineral film residue clears and natural oils return to normal function.

15. Can the SoftPro Elite HE Handle Phoenix's Water Without a Separate Filter?

The SoftPro Elite HE effectively handles Phoenix's 12.3 GPG hardness and sediment challenges with its integrated pre-filter system. However, Phoenix residents who want chlorine removal for taste and odor improvement should add an activated carbon filter downstream of the softener. Fluoride removal, if desired, requires a separate reverse osmosis system at the drinking water tap.

16. What Happens If I Don't Maintain My Softener Properly in Phoenix?

Neglected maintenance in Phoenix's 12.3 GPG conditions leads to salt bridging, resin fouling, and system failure within 6-12 months. Without proper salt levels and regular cleaning, mineral breakthrough occurs, allowing hard water to damage appliances and create scale buildup throughout your home's plumbing system — essentially negating the protection you invested in.

17. Final Verdict for Phoenix

Phoenix's extreme water hardness of 12.3 GPG demands commercial-grade treatment capability in a residential package. The combination of very hard water, chlorine treatment chemicals, and sediment from aging infrastructure creates a challenging environment that overwhelms basic softening systems and destroys unprotected appliances with mathematical predictability.

The SoftPro Elite HE water softener represents the optimal match for Phoenix conditions because its demand-initiated regeneration prevents hard water breakthrough during high-usage periods, its certified resin handles heavy mineral removal without premature degradation, and its integrated sediment pre-filter protects against particulate contamination from Phoenix's distribution system. This isn't a luxury upgrade — it's infrastructure protection that pays for itself through prevented appliance damage, reduced energy costs, and eliminated soap waste.

Phoenix families investing in water softening should check current SoftPro Elite HE pricing and available grain capacities for proper household sizing. The 48,000-grain model serves most Phoenix households optimally, providing 5-7 day regeneration cycles that balance efficiency with consistent performance under demanding desert conditions.

Like the desert blooms that thrive in Papago Park despite harsh conditions, Phoenix homes equipped with proper water treatment flourish while their unprotected neighbors struggle against the relentless mineral assault flowing through every tap.