While many consumers use a water softener so they can enjoy the benefits of soft water, there is some confusion about whether softened water is safe to drink. Some consumers are concerned that drinking softened water will increase the level of sodium in their diet. Despite the myth, softening your water will not result in salty-tasting water. Sodium bicarbonate, which is different from sodium chloride table salt , is formed through the water softening process.
The amount of sodium added to water from the water softening process depends on the hardness of the water supply. When very hard water greater than 10 grains of hardness per gallon is softened, between 20mg to 30mg of sodium is added to every 8 ounces of water dependent on the measured hardness.
To find out if you have very hard water, you can consult the U. Geological Survey or contact your local water authority. Few water sources will have mineral deposits that high. Since soft water contains a slightly higher amount of sodium, it can elevate your blood pressure. Because of this, softened water is not an ideal choice for somebody with high blood pressure. Too much sodium and elevated blood pressure can damage your kidneys and your eyes, is harmful to your heart and can cause other issues that are present in people with high blood pressure.
If the hardness is less than ppm, the soft water is safe to drink. A hardness level of higher than ppm will result in a higher quantity of sodium in the water after softening, meaning you may want to avoid drinking it. Reverse osmosis is a type of water purification technology that uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove salt and other large particles from the drinking water. Therefore, it leaves you with sodium-free, chemical-free, great-tasting and healthy water.
Other types of filters will not help make soft water drinkable, as they do not remove sodium or certain minerals. To learn more about water softeners, whole-house filtration systems, and reverse-osmosis filters, contact Clear Water Concepts.
Get A Quote. The role of sodium in the water softening process may be what has many consumers wondering if softened water contains an unhealthy amount of sodium for drinking and cooking. Hard water that contains calcium and magnesium minerals flows through the softener unit, which is packed with water softener resin beads that are coated with sodium ions.
In a process called ion exchange, the calcium and magnesium minerals are drawn from hard water and become attached to the resin beads instead. At this point, the sodium ions are released from the resin into the now soft water that is used throughout your home.
Just how much sodium ends up in softened water?
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