Dante Carrillo
Water softeners work by removing calcium and magnesium from your water supply, protecting your home, hair, and skin from damage. However, many people are concerned that water softeners will increase the amount of sodium in their water. While water softeners do add sodium to the water, it is only a small amount and does not significantly impact your daily sodium intake. The amount of sodium added depends on the initial hardness of the water, with harder water resulting in more sodium being released. If you are on a medically-prescribed low-sodium diet, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider to ensure softened water is safe for you to drink.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do water softeners add salt to your diet? | Water softeners add a small amount of sodium to your water, not salt. |
| How much sodium is added to the water? | The harder the water, the more sodium is released because it's roughly a one-to-one exchange. |
| How to avoid the added sodium? | Install a reverse osmosis (RO) system along with a water softener. An RO system will not only filter out the sodium added by the water softener but also a lot of other harmful contaminants. |
| Is softened water safe to drink? | Yes, softened water is safe to drink. The amount of sodium in softened water does not represent a significant percentage of a person's daily intake. |
| What is the recommended limit for sodium intake? | The American Heart Association recommends a diet of 2,300 mg of sodium or less per day. |
| What are the other options to avoid drinking softened water? | Install an extra drinking water faucet in the kitchen to get untreated water for cooking and drinking. |
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What You'll Learn
- Water softeners add a small amount of sodium to water, not salt
- The harder the water, the more sodium is released
- Sodium is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods
- The average American consumes 3,400 mg of sodium per day, mostly from processed foods
- Reverse osmosis systems can be installed alongside water softeners to remove sodium
Water softeners add a small amount of sodium to water, not salt
Water softeners work by removing calcium and magnesium from the water supply. These minerals can cause damage to hair, skin, and appliances. The water softener replaces these hard minerals with "soft" sodium ions. While this does increase the sodium content of the water, it is important to note that it does not add salt.
The added sodium from a water softener is not a significant percentage of a person's daily intake. For example, softened water typically contains about 12.5 mg of sodium per 8 oz glass, but this can vary depending on water hardness. Even with very hard water, a water softener will only add around 28 mg of sodium per cup, which is still relatively low compared to other dietary sources.
If you are concerned about the added sodium, there are a few options to consider. One option is to only soften your hot water line, leaving the cold water untreated. This way, you can use softened water for bathing and laundry while still having sodium-free drinking water. Another option is to install a reverse osmosis (RO) system alongside your water softener. An RO system will effectively remove sodium and other contaminants, providing you with clean and healthy drinking water.
It is worth noting that sodium is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods we consume daily. The biggest sources of salt in our diet come from processed foods and table salt. Additionally, the average American consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium per day, which is well above the recommended limit of 2,300 mg suggested by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Therefore, the small amount of sodium added by water softeners is not a significant contribution to our overall sodium intake.
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The harder the water, the more sodium is released
Water softeners work by removing calcium and magnesium from hard water. However, to do so, they have to add a replacement, which is usually sodium. The harder the water, the more sodium is released because it's a one-to-one exchange.
Let's say you have hard water, measuring more than 15 "grains per gallon." A water softener will release about 448 milligrams of sodium per gallon of water during the softening process. This means that installing a water softener will add about 28 milligrams of sodium to each 8-ounce cup of water.
Even with very hard water, a water softener will not add a significant amount of sodium to your diet. For instance, at 20 grains of hardness, some of the hardest water recorded in the US, a water softener will only add 149 mg of sodium to a quart of drinking water. This is far less than the sodium content of many common foods and drinks.
However, if you are on a medically prescribed low-sodium diet for heart or blood pressure issues, you should consult your healthcare provider to see if it is safe for you to drink softened water. You can also consider installing a reverse osmosis (RO) system along with your water softener to filter out the sodium and other contaminants.
Overall, while it is true that the harder the water, the more sodium is released during the softening process, the actual amount of sodium added to your diet is minimal compared to other sources in your daily life.
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Sodium is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods
Water softeners replace hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium with sodium ions. This does add sodium to your drinking water, but the amount is usually very small. For instance, even with very hard water, a water softener will only add about 149 mg of sodium to a quart of drinking water. This is a minimal amount when compared to the sodium content of many common foods and drinks.
However, it is the sodium added to foods during manufacturing or food processing that contributes most to our daily intake of this mineral, often in excessive amounts. More than 70% of the sodium we eat comes from processed and restaurant foods. Sodium is added to food for curing meat, baking, thickening, retaining moisture, enhancing flavour, and as a preservative. Some common food additives that contain sodium include monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium nitrite, and sodium benzoate.
If you are concerned about the amount of sodium in your water, there are some ways to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet from water softeners. One way is to only soften your hot water line, leaving the cold drinking water unchanged. You can also install an extra drinking water faucet in the kitchen for untreated water, or you can install a reverse osmosis (RO) system to filter out the sodium.
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The average American consumes 3,400 mg of sodium per day, mostly from processed foods
Water softeners work by replacing hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium with sodium ions. The amount of sodium added depends on the hardness of the water, with harder water resulting in more sodium content. However, even with very hard water, a water softener typically adds a negligible amount of sodium to your diet. For instance, at 20 grains of hardness, a water softener would add approximately 149 mg of sodium to a quart of drinking water, which is significantly lower than the sodium content of many common foods.
The average American consumes approximately 3,400 mg of sodium per day, which is considerably higher than the recommended intake. The American Heart Association and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that adults limit their sodium intake to 2,300 mg or less per day. This recommendation is based on the understanding that excessive sodium intake can negatively impact blood pressure and heart health.
It is important to recognise that the primary sources of sodium in the average American diet are not from table salt added during cooking or at the table, but from processed and packaged foods. More than 70% of sodium consumption originates from these sources, which include items like savory snacks, packaged sauces, mixes, and "instant" products. Therefore, while water softeners may contribute a small amount of sodium, the much larger contribution comes from the processed foods that Americans typically consume in significant quantities.
To reduce sodium intake, individuals can take several measures. Firstly, installing a reverse osmosis (RO) system alongside a water softener can effectively filter out sodium and other contaminants. Additionally, individuals can prioritise the preparation of their own meals using fresh, unprocessed ingredients, rather than relying on packaged or prepared foods. Checking nutrition labels and comparing products can also help individuals make informed choices to reduce their sodium intake.
In summary, while water softeners do add some sodium to the water supply, it is not a significant contributor to the average American's sodium intake. The much larger contribution comes from processed and packaged foods, which are prevalent in the standard American diet. By understanding these key sources of sodium, individuals can make more informed dietary choices to align with recommended sodium intake levels.
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Reverse osmosis systems can be installed alongside water softeners to remove sodium
Water softeners work by removing calcium and magnesium from hard water and replacing them with sodium ions. This sodium is what leads to concerns about increased sodium intake. However, even with very hard water, a water softener will not add a significant amount of sodium to your diet. For instance, at 20 grains of hardness, a water softener will only add 149 mg of sodium to a quart of drinking water. For context, the American Heart Association recommends a diet of 2,300 mg of sodium or less per day.
Despite this, if you are on a medically prescribed low-sodium diet, it is best to consult your healthcare provider to determine if drinking softened water is suitable for you. To avoid adding sodium to your drinking water, you can choose to only soften your hot water line, leaving your drinking water untouched. Alternatively, you can install an extra drinking water faucet in the kitchen for untreated water, while your other appliances receive softened water.
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems can also be used to remove sodium from drinking water. RO systems use a semi-permeable membrane to filter out nearly all contaminants and minerals, including sodium, from water. When used in conjunction with a water softener, the RO system will remove the sodium added by the softener, providing pure, sodium-free drinking water. Additionally, the water softener helps extend the life of the RO system by removing calcium and magnesium, which are harder for the RO membrane to filter out.
Therefore, installing an RO system alongside a water softener is an effective way to remove sodium from your drinking water while still enjoying the benefits of softened water for your appliances, pipes, fixtures, skin, and hair. This combination provides the best of both worlds, ensuring pure, safe, and refreshing water for your entire home.
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Frequently asked questions
No, water softeners add sodium to your water, not salt. The harder your water, the more sodium is released because it’s roughly a one-to-one exchange. However, even with very hard water, a water softener will not add a significant amount of sodium to your diet.
The amount of sodium present in drinking water—even after softening—does not represent a significant percentage of a person’s daily intake. The exact amount of sodium present in soft water depends on how much hardness is being removed by the softener. For example, someone with 11 grains per gallon (gpg) hardness would see an additional 20.6 mg of sodium per 8-ounce glass.
There are a few ways to reduce sodium intake from water softeners:
- Install a reverse osmosis (RO) system: An RO system filters out sodium and other contaminants that a water softener doesn't remove.
- Install a bypass faucet: You can have an extra, untreated drinking water faucet installed in your kitchen. This allows you to get original, untreated water for drinking and cooking while your household appliances receive softened water.
