Regenerating a portable RV water softener restores its ability to soften water, but the correct salt amount, hose direction, rinse stages, and completion check depend on the exact model. This guide covers the documented procedures for On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model softeners, plus the PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without its optional regeneration kit.
Before starting, identify the model printed on your unit and use only its own instructions. Do not combine salt quantities, rinse times, or hose directions from different models.
If you are still choosing a unit, our portable RV water softener comparison explains how capacity and design differences affect everyday use. Capacity also affects how often regeneration becomes necessary, so it is worth matching the unit to your water hardness and usage before relying on a maintenance schedule.
Identify Your Softener and Regeneration Trigger
Regenerate when hardness test strips show that water at the softener’s output is no longer soft. For On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model units, the manufacturer defines soft water as 0 to 3 grains per gallon (GPG) at the output.
Delayed regeneration can leave output water outside that 0 to 3 GPG range even after the process, so do not wait until hardness symptoms are severe to check the unit.
Use this table to select the exact procedure for your softener. Do not use an optional WS-P-16 regeneration-kit procedure unless you have the matching accessory manual for that specific kit.
| Softener model | Supported regeneration route | Salt quantity | Regeneration flow direction | Slow rinse | Full-flow rinse | Completion check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On The Go Standard | Direct top-cap fill | One full 26 oz box of iodized or non-iodized table salt | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 12 to 15 minutes | 3 to 4 minutes | Output tests 0 to 3 GPG and is not salty |
| On The Go Double Standard | Direct top-cap fill | Two full 26 oz boxes of iodized or non-iodized table salt | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 24 to 30 minutes | 6 to 8 minutes | Output tests 0 to 3 GPG and is not salty |
| On The Go Park Model | Direct top-cap fill | Four full 26 oz boxes of iodized or non-iodized table salt | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 50 to 60 minutes | 10 to 12 minutes | Output tests 0 to 3 GPG and is not salty |
| PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 | Without WS-P-REG-KIT only | 4 lbs of table salt | Supply to OUT, discharge from IN | 10 to 15 minutes | 1 to 2 minutes | No salt water comes out |
The salt amount is not interchangeable between models. A 26 oz box is not a pound, and the WS-P-16 without-kit procedure uses 4 lbs of table salt rather than a box count.
Choose the Permitted Salt for Your Exact Model
Use plain table salt, either iodized or non-iodized, in the exact quantity listed for your model. The On The Go instructions specify iodized or non-iodized table salt, and the WS-P-16 without-kit instructions specify 4 lbs of table salt.
Do not assume that pellets, blocks, solar salt, or another softener salt format can replace the documented table-salt procedure. Also, do not convert an On The Go box count into pounds or use a WS-P-16 pound amount for an On The Go model.
If you are considering any chemical other than the salt specified by your softener’s manufacturer, read the manufacturer’s instructions first. Regeneration is a salt-based capacity-restoration task, not a general cleaning or sanitizing procedure.
Isolate, Drain, and Prepare the Softener
Turn off the water supply and disconnect the hoses before adding salt. For On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model units, the manufacturer directs you to turn off the supply and disconnect both the inlet and outlet hoses.
Before beginning, confirm where the salty rinse water will go. Do not connect the RV to the softener while salt water is being discharged, and do not insert a discharge hose into a sewer opening. Disposal permission is location-specific, so use an arrangement permitted for your campsite, RV park, or property.
On The Go preparation
- Turn off the water supply.
- Disconnect the inlet and outlet hoses.
- With the head or cap still on, tilt or turn the unit over to drain the water.
- Return the unit upright.
- Tap the black base against the ground a few times so the resin settles back into the bottom of the tank.
- Remove the top cap only after draining and resin settling are complete.
If your On The Go unit also needs backflushing, perform the backflush first; the manufacturer says to complete backflush before regeneration when both tasks are done together.
PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without-kit preparation
- Turn off the water supply before disconnecting hoses.
- Disconnect the hoses.
- Lay the unit on its side to drain the water out.
- Stand the unit upright before adding salt.
The WS-P-16 must be upright for service. Do not install or operate it on its side.
Add Salt and Complete the Brine Stage
Add only the salt quantity specified for your exact model, then complete its documented brine-contact stage before rinsing.
On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model
- Add the exact table-salt quantity for your model through the top cap:
- Standard: one full 26 oz box.
- Double Standard: two full 26 oz boxes.
- Park Model: four full 26 oz boxes.
- Replace the cap securely.
- Reconnect the supply hose to the inlet side of the softener.
- Run water slowly until the discharge stream is about the size of a pencil.
- Continue that slow rinse for the duration listed for your model in the rinsing table below.
PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without regeneration kit
- Remove the unit head by turning it counterclockwise.
- Pour 4 lbs of table salt directly into the unit.
- Replace the head.
- Let the unit stand for 40 to 50 minutes.
- Agitate or shake the unit every 10 minutes during that standing period.
After the standing and agitation stage, keep the WS-P-16 upright and level. For regeneration only, connect the incoming water hose to the port labeled “OUT” and connect a separate discharge hose to the port labeled “IN.” This is the reverse of the unit’s normal service-flow direction.
Rinse Using the Documented Slow and Full-Flow Stages
Run the slow rinse first, then the full-flow rinse. The slow stage uses a pencil-size stream, while the full-flow stage uses the water supply turned fully on. Do not convert the visual stream description into a flow-rate number, and do not shorten or combine the two stages.
| Softener model | Regeneration flow direction | Slow rinse: pencil-size stream | Full-flow rinse |
|---|---|---|---|
| On The Go Standard | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 12 to 15 minutes | 3 to 4 minutes |
| On The Go Double Standard | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 24 to 30 minutes | 6 to 8 minutes |
| On The Go Park Model | Supply to IN, discharge from OUT | 50 to 60 minutes | 10 to 12 minutes |
| PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without kit | Supply to OUT, discharge from IN | 10 to 15 minutes | 1 to 2 minutes |
For On The Go units, replace the cap and connect the supply hose to the inlet side before beginning the slow rinse. For the WS-P-16 without kit, confirm that the unit remains upright and level, with supply connected to OUT and discharge connected to IN, before turning on the water.
Dispose of Rinse Water Without Damaging the Site
Use a discharge arrangement that is permitted where you are regenerating the softener. Do not drain regeneration water onto grass, flowers, or trees; the WS-P-16 manual specifically prohibits those discharge locations.
That prohibition does not automatically make a driveway, sewer connection, or another location acceptable. Confirm the permitted disposal arrangement locally before running salty water, and do not insert discharge equipment into a sewer opening.
After the final rinse, the softener is ready for output verification. If you plan to store the RV or the softener for the season, review how to winterize the softener after regeneration before putting the system away.
Verify Hardness and Reconnect Your RV
Do not reconnect the RV until the output meets your model’s documented completion check. For On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model units, test water at the softener output with hardness test strips; the manufacturer defines soft water as 0 to 3 GPG. The output also should not have a salty taste.
For the PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without kit, the manual’s completion point is when no salt water is coming out of the unit.
Before returning the system to service:
- Confirm the model-specific completion endpoint.
- Check the top cap, hoses, and connections for leaks.
- Make sure the top cap and hoses are tightened securely.
- Return the unit to its normal service orientation.
For On The Go models, make sure the unit is standing upright for use. For the WS-P-16, restore normal service by connecting the incoming water hose to the “IN” port and directing the hose from the “OUT” port to the RV’s city-water connection or city-fill inlet.
A successful hardness check confirms that the softener has regained its softening endpoint. It does not prove that water is free of bacteria, viruses, or other contaminants. No single treatment unit removes all contaminants, and known or suspected contamination requires a safer water supply and qualified guidance.
What to Do If Hardness Persists
If the output still does not meet your model’s documented endpoint after regeneration, stop and follow the manufacturer’s guidance for that exact unit. For On The Go models, delayed regeneration can leave output outside the 0 to 3 GPG range after the process.
Do not invent a second salt dose, extend a rinse time, add a chemical, or attempt resin cleaning or replacement based on a general recommendation. Manufacturer instructions govern any chemical addition to a softener.
If water has an odor, unusual color, or a safety concern, do not treat regeneration as a fix. Arrange a safer water supply and seek qualified guidance; contamination concerns are separate from hardness regeneration. If odor or contamination symptoms indicate a different maintenance need, see the dedicated RV water softener sanitization workflow.
Regeneration FAQ
What kind of salt should I use to regenerate a portable RV water softener?
Use plain table salt, either iodized or non-iodized, in the amount specified for your exact model. The On The Go procedures specify iodized or non-iodized table salt, and the WS-P-16 without-kit procedure specifies 4 lbs of table salt.
Can I use potassium chloride instead of table salt?
Do not substitute potassium chloride unless your exact softener’s manufacturer instructions allow it. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before adding any chemical to a softener; this guide does not establish a universal potassium-chloride dose or compatibility rule.
How much salt does each covered model require?
On The Go Standard requires one full 26 oz box of table salt, Double Standard requires two full 26 oz boxes, Park Model requires four full 26 oz boxes, and PRO+AQUA WS-P-16 without its regeneration kit requires 4 lbs of table salt. Keep each quantity tied to its own model.
Why does the slow rinse stage matter?
The slow rinse is a separate stage that uses a pencil-size stream before the full-flow rinse. Follow your model’s documented slow-rinse duration, then run its separate full-flow rinse for the listed time.
How do I know regeneration is complete?
For On The Go Standard, Double Standard, and Park Model units, test the output with hardness strips; soft water is 0 to 3 GPG, and the output should not be salty. For the WS-P-16 without kit, the manual says the unit is ready when no salt water is coming out.
Where can I drain regeneration rinse water?
Use a discharge arrangement permitted for your location. Do not drain onto grass, flowers, or trees, and do not insert a discharge hose into a sewer opening.
Does regeneration remove odors or kill bacteria?
No. Regeneration restores softening capacity; it does not establish that water is microbiologically safe. If you know water is contaminated or are concerned about its color, taste, or odor, use a safer water supply and obtain qualified guidance.
What should I do if the water is still hard after regeneration?
Stop and consult the manufacturer’s guidance for your exact model. Delayed regeneration can leave On The Go output outside the 0 to 3 GPG range, but this guide does not provide an invented corrective dose, extended rinse, or resin-replacement procedure.
