Modern kitchen taps may come in a range of stylish models, but a water softener is still a valuable addition to many kitchens, according to the Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom Specialists Association (KBSA).The group claimed that 60 per cent of Brits lived in hard water areas, meaning that a water softener was necessary in order to enjoy the full benefits and health value of tap water without experiencing the draw-backs.Claiming that people choosing a water softener were unlikely to ever go back, the KBSA said that the item was as simple to fit as a washing machine or dishwasher, while requiring relatively little maintenance.Kitchens in hard water areas can suffer various problems if a softener is not installed, it was claimed, with scale in the kettle and scum in your tea adding to the wider household complications of lime-scale marks in toilets and blockages in washbasins and showerheads.Those suffering with eczema also stood to gain from softening their water, according to the KBSA, as users had found their condition to improve after removing hard residues from their tap water.Frankes Triflow taps offer a stylish addition to water softeners for many kitches, with the Triflow systems filter option helping to purify water as it flows through the tap.