Softened Water Myths – Can You Drink Softened Water?

Hard water can be a serious pain to deal with. Over time, it can leave buildup on your clothing and even affect the quality of your skin and hair. One of the easiest ways to deal with hard water is to install a water softener system in your home. However, many people avoid water softeners because of some common myths about the way they work – most notably, the myth that you cannot drink softened water. But are these myths true? Here’s what you need to know about water softeners.

Hard Water vs. Soft Water

First, it’s important to understand the difference between hard water and soft water. The difference between hard water and soft water is the presence of minerals in the water, most notably calcium and magnesium. Some water sources naturally contain these minerals.

If the water in your home comes from a hard water source, you might start to notice a white film in your shower and sinks. You also might notice buildup in appliances like your dishwasher, laundry machine, or ice machine, as well as in the pipes themselves. Additionally, hard water can dry your hair out and make it feel brittle. If you notice these signs of water, the easiest way to fix them is to invest in a water softener.

How do water softeners work?

Water softeners filter these minerals out through the process of reverse osmosis. During this process, calcium and magnesium are removed from the water and replaced with sodium ions. Sodium does not cause irritation or leave residue the way these minerals do.

Can you drink softened water?

Many people worry that softened water is not safe to drink. One of the most common myths about softened water is that contains too much sodium to consume. However, the amount of sodium in softened water is going to depend on how hard your water is. The harder your water is, the more sodium will be necessary to soften it.

If your water contains too much sodium to drink comfortably, you can use it with a water purifier to filter out the sodium and improve the taste. However, most softened water contains a very safe level of sodium that won’t affect your diet or your health.

Another common myth is that softened water contains salt. Water softeners do not add sodium chloride to your water – instead, they use special filtering beads that only contain sodium molecules. You won’t find any salt in your softened water.

You may also see ‘salt-free’ water softeners on the market. While these may seem like a good idea, they aren’t actually going to be effective. Salt-free water softeners suspend calcium and magnesium to keep them from building up in your pipes, but they don’t remove them entirely.

Using a water softener is the easiest way to remove unwanted minerals from your water while keeping it safe to drink. You can also use water softeners in combination with a reverse osmosis system for even cleaner drinking water. Atlantic Coast Water Clinic installs and maintains water softeners and other water filtration systems in south Florida. Give us a call at 772-283-4767 or contact us online to learn more about our water softeners.