A water softener employs a vessel, a distributor with a manifold body associated
to said vessel and a valve control device. A control unit programs operation of
the softener. An actuator unit has a cylinder divided into a first chamber and
a second chamber. The actuator unit is adapted to move a spool to define different
flow ways, for water. The first chamber communicates directly with a water inlet
pipe, and the second chamber communicates with the inlet pipe through a valve and
an outlet.