Last Updated on December 12, 2022 by Mattias
A water softener can be helpful when dealing with the hardness of your water. It can also benefit your appliances like your washing machine and dishwasher. Your skin can also feel more smooth since hard water gives dry skin.
But even if the list of benefits of softened water is long, you may wonder: “Is it safe to drink soft water, and is there any side effects?”
In this article, we will give you all the answers you need.
So should you use a water softener for drinking? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
How To Make Soft Water
Hard water problems are caused by calcium and magnesium ions, which cause minerals to leave stains and scale deposits on your pipes, and you need more soap to lather.
The minerals are removed in an ion exchange process when the water flows through your water softener. You can find resin beads charged with sodium chloride ions inside the water softener.
So when the hard water passes the beads, the mineral ions and sodium ions exchange. This process frees your water from hard minerals.
How safe your softened water depends on the hardness level; if it’s extremely hard, most calcium and magnesium have been replaced by sodium.
Read also: 12 Best Kitchen Faucets For Hard Water + Buyers Guide
Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?
Yes, drinking is perfectly safe, but what you should get a better understanding of is the elevated amount of sodium a water softener can cause. Even if the softest water is entirely safe for drinking, elevated sodium might not be suitable for people with high blood pressure since too much salt can increase blood pressure.
But the amount of sodium in your water supply depends on your original water hardness. If the hardness level is above 400ppm before the softening process, you may need additional filters to purify the water even more before drinking it.
If you have health concerns, there’s one good way to make soft water drinkable, which you will find out later in this article.
If you like the taste of hard water more, you can always install a hard water tap. By doing this, you will keep the hardness of the water in your tap water but have softened water in the rest of your house.
But we’ve seen that most people like the taste of soft water even more.
Read also: Will Water Softener Water Kill Plants?
How much Sodium is Added During Softening Process?
Every 8. oz cup of water you drink contains 28 mg of sodium.
Daily sodium intake recommendation: less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily.
As you can see, it takes many cups of water to reach the maximum daily intake. Watch out for table salt instead!
But still, if you’re on a low-sodium diet, you might be concerned about the additional sodium your body will get, then it’s important you know the water hardness before you start to soften it.
As we stated, if it’s above 400 ppm, it will have a higher sodium level after the water softening, which means you may not want to drink it.
If your doctor has advised you to do a low sodium diet, you shouldn’t drink softened water.
Read also: How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Toilet
How to Make Softened Water Drinkable?
If you know that you have hard water but are worried about sodium, the best way for you would be to invest in a reverse osmosis system.
It takes out all the sodium that a water softener takes in. It also takes out more chemicals, improving your water quality even more, and you will end up with water that is:
- Sodium free
- Chemical free
- Great tasting water
- Healthier water
FAQ Drinking Soft Water
What are the effects of drinking softened water?
Most people can drink hard or soft water, but if you got health problems or high blood pressure, you should be aware of the increased sodium intake.
Read also: How To Add Salt To Water Softener
Is it OK to cook with soft water?
Absolutely, cooking with softened water can ensure that your food tastes free from minerals and a little more tender.
Can a water softener cause high blood pressure?
A water softener adds a small amount of sodium, elevating your blood pressure.
Read also: 9 Reasons Why Your Softened Water Tastes Salty
Can You Use A Water Softener For Drinking Summary
I hope you got all the answers you were looking searched for.
As you discovered, it’s possible to drink soft water. But it’s important to know about the added sodium and the hardness of water before taking action.
Good luck!
Meet Mattias Jonsson, the head of content at RainSaucers. Passionate about gardening and water-related topics, he’s dedicated to providing expert information and resources to help improve your home, health, and wallet. Learn from his research and experience.