Drinking Softened Water: How Much Sodium in Softened Water? (2024)

FAQs

Drinking Softened Water: How Much Sodium in Softened Water? ›

“An 8-ounce (237-milliliter) glass of softened water generally contains less than 12.5 milligrams of sodium, which is well within the Food and Drug Administration's definition of “very low sodium.” – Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. at the Mayo Health Clinic.

In other words, if your water test tells you that you have 18 grains per gallon hardness, installing a water softener will add about 35 milligrams of sodium to each 8 oz. glass of water you drink. To put this in perspective, a tablespoon of catsup has 204 mg. of sodium and a slice of whole wheat bread has 211.

It is unlikely that the increased sodium from softened water would have any health risks for most people. This may not be true for people on severely sodium-restricted diets.

In fact, no salt gets into the water supply itself – the softener salt is only used to clean and regenerate the resin that acts on the water. Softened water is safe to drink.

Water softeners contain sodium to assist with filtration. The water shouldn't taste salty, but it can raise your blood pressure. 1 Exactly how much sodium is in softened water depends on how hard the water is to start.

There has been little research done to prove that a standard Brita filter can effectively remove all the added sodium in your water. If you are on a low sodium diet, a better option would be to have your kitchen water tap taken off of the water softener so your tap water can run with hard water instead.

Check For Overflowing Brine Tanks

Water leaving the brine tank will take the salt with it. Brine tank overflow is caused by unit malfunction, which may be intermittent, so check for salt stains on the floor and ensure the water level is below the overflow height.

However, there has been no official verdict to state that drinking softened water is a problem and softened water is considered safe to drink. Most water softeners work by removing the minerals present in hard water, such as magnesium and calcium, through a process known as ion-exchange.

The process of water softening can cause water to have an elevated amount of sodium. While most soft water is perfectly safe to drink, elevated sodium levels may not be ideal for people with high blood pressure. But even for those with health concerns, there is a way to make softened water drinkable.

Salt-based water softeners add an unhealthy amount of sodium to water. This is probably the most common myth and completely untrue. According to the Mayo Clinic, most water softeners add about 50 milligrams of sodium per liter of water – a very low sodium level by any standard.

How to remove sodium from softened water? ›

Reverse osmosis is a highly effective and natural method for removing sodium from softened water. At the same time, reverse osmosis systems also dramatically reduce the number of contaminants in water. Reverse osmosis systems are effective at removing or reducing: Sodium.

It's okay to use soft water, but it doesn't provide any benefit to your garden. And soft water should only be used occasionally on outdoor gardens that receive natural rain. Otherwise, use normal tap water for your indoor plants. Reverse Osmosis is the best water for a serious gardener.

To be clear, water does contain some sodium naturally - 9.4 mg per cup, on average, according to the USDA. So, using a water softener will increase those sodium levels slightly. But overall, the sodium in soft water doesn't even come close to the amount in many foods we eat daily.

These stones are a concern for anyone who does not stay hydrated enough, has a high sodium intake, or is low on calcium, as these can lead to increased chances of kidney stones. A person can drink either hard or soft water and still be in the same danger of kidney stones if they do not drink enough.

Americans eat on average about 3,400 mg of sodium per day. However, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends adults limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day—that's equal to about 1 teaspoon of table salt! For children under age 14, recommended limits are even lower.

Can I Drink Softened Water? While most softened water is perfectly safe to drink, the amount of sodium in the treated water will depend on the hardness of the original water. If the water hardness is below 400 ppm calcium before you soften it, then you can drink it with little concern.

Reverse osmosis is a highly effective and natural method for removing sodium from softened water. At the same time, reverse osmosis systems also dramatically reduce the number of contaminants in water. Reverse osmosis systems are effective at removing or reducing: Sodium.

While there is no drinking water standard for sodium, state and federal agencies recommend sodium levels in water not exceed 20 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for people on very low sodium diets and 270 mg/L for people on moderately restricted sodium diets. Most of the salt we consume comes from food.

Drinking sole water increases sodium, which can lead to lower stress levels. One study showed that elevated sodium levels in the body can inhibit stress hormones in stressful situations. Salt water has no calories, so drinking it won't affect your daily energy intake.