One of the water sources used in mountain area is spring water, because they are easy to find and physically fit for consumption during the dry season but not during the rainy season in terms of color not eligible and the water contains lime (hardness). So that there is a need for processing, one of which is ion exchange. In order for optimal ion exchange, it is necessary to filter it first with several charcoal media (activated charcoal and rice husk charcoal).The purpose of this research is to know the benefits of activated charcoal media and rice husk charcoal in reducing water hardness as an adsorbent before ion exchange process. This research method is True Experiment with Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The object of this research is a spring water that has hard hardness located in Pringtali, Jatimulyo, Girimulyo, Kulon Progo. Sampling technique is grab sampling.The research results is significant difference between in the decrease hardness so that there is effect of using adsorbent before ion exchange process (p < 0.001). Water hardness decreas after treat with activate charcoal before ion exchange process by 225.8 mg/l (80.7 %), using rice husk charcoal before ion exchange process by 196.7 mg/l (70.2%) and without direct charcoal ion exchange process of 145.8 mg/l (52.1 %). In conclusion, there is a greater decrease in hardness when treated using adsorbents before ion exchange process first. Keywords : Hardness, Adsorbent, Activated Charcoal, Rice Husk Charcoal