Yes, you can drink softened water, but most people don't because of the sodium
Softened water is safe to drink from a health standpoint — the softening process removes minerals like calcium and magnesium, but it does not introduce anything toxic. The real reason households avoid drinking it is that softening adds sodium (salt) to replace those minerals. For most people this is not a problem. For anyone on a sodium-restricted diet — due to high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney issues — drinking softened water regularly can add up.
How much sodium ends up in your water depends on how hard your water was to begin with. The harder the water, the more salt the softener uses, and the more sodium remains in the finished water. A person on a 2,000 mg daily sodium limit who drinks eight glasses of softened water from very hard water could consume 200 to 400 mg of sodium just from drinking water — a meaningful portion of their allowance.
Key Takeaways
- Softened water contains added sodium and is safe to drink, but people with sodium-restricted diets should limit their intake or use an alternative source for drinking water.
- The amount of sodium in softened water varies based on your water hardness — harder water requires more salt during softening, leaving more sodium behind.
- A reverse osmosis filter or a separate drinking water line can remove sodium from softened water if you want the benefits of soft water for washing but need low-sodium drinking water.
- Babies under one year should not drink softened water regularly because their kidneys are still developing and sodium intake should be kept very low.
- If you are unsure whether softened water is right for your household, a water test and conversation with your doctor can clarify the choice.
How much sodium actually ends up in softened water
The amount varies widely. A water softener works by trading calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions — it is a chemical swap, not a removal. The harder your incoming water, the more of that swap happens, and the more sodium stays behind.
Water hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg). If your water tests at 10 gpg (very hard), a softener might add 100 to 200 mg of sodium per liter. If your water is 5 gpg (moderately hard), it might add 50 to 100 mg per liter. If your water is already soft or only slightly hard, a softener adds very little sodium at all. The only way to know your own numbers is to have your water tested before and after softening — your water softener company or a local lab can do this.
Who should avoid drinking softened water regularly
Anyone with a doctor-imposed sodium limit should either drink unsoftened water or use a separate drinking water source. This includes people managing high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or cirrhosis. If you are unsure whether your condition requires sodium restriction, ask your doctor whether softened water is safe for you.
Infants under one year old should not drink softened water regularly. Their kidneys are still maturing and cannot handle excess sodium the way adult kidneys do. If you have a baby and your home water is softened, use bottled water or unsoftened tap water for formula and drinking until they turn one.
Pregnant women do not need to avoid softened water, but if you are pregnant and on a sodium-restricted diet for any reason, the same caution applies — check with your doctor.
Ways to have soft water and low-sodium drinking water
You do not have to choose between soft water for your whole house and sodium-free drinking water. The most common solution is a reverse osmosis (RO) filter installed under the kitchen sink. An RO system removes sodium along with other dissolved solids, so water from that tap will be low in sodium even if the rest of your house is softened. The filter cartridges need replacing every 6 to 12 months depending on use, and the system wastes some water during filtration, but it solves the problem cleanly.
Another option is a separate drinking water line that bypasses the softener entirely. This requires running a new line from your main water supply to your kitchen tap, which is more invasive than an RO filter but gives you completely unsoftened water for drinking and cooking. A plumber can install this, and it has no ongoing maintenance costs.
Some people straightforward keep a pitcher of bottled water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking, and use softened water for everything else. This is the cheapest option upfront but costs more over time if you drink a lot of water.
What softening does not remove
Softening removes hardness minerals, but it does not remove bacteria, viruses, nitrates, lead, or other contaminants. If your water has any of those problems, softening alone will not fix them. You would need additional treatment — usually a carbon filter for chlorine taste, a sediment filter for particles, or a reverse osmosis system for dissolved contaminants. A water test will tell you what is actually in your water and what treatment makes sense.
Softened water is also slightly more corrosive than hard water because the minerals that make water hard also protect pipes from corrosion. In homes with old copper or galvanized steel pipes, very soft water can sometimes leach small amounts of copper or lead. This is rare and usually only happens in older homes with poor water chemistry, but it is another reason to test your water if you are concerned.
Testing your water before deciding
Before you worry about whether softened water is right for your household, get your water tested. A basic hardness test costs $20 to $50 and tells you exactly how much sodium your softener is adding. Many water softener companies offer this test free or cheap as part of a sales consultation — the test itself is honest even if the sales pitch is not.
If you want a more complete picture, a full water quality test from a certified lab (usually $100 to $300) will show you hardness, sodium, pH, chlorine, bacteria, nitrates, and other parameters. Your local health department or county extension office can recommend a lab. Once you know what is in your water, you and your doctor can decide whether softened water is safe for your household or whether you need an alternative source for drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is softened water bad for your kidneys?
Softened water is not inherently bad for healthy kidneys. The concern is sodium intake for people whose kidneys are already compromised or whose doctors have restricted sodium for heart or blood pressure reasons. Healthy kidneys can handle the sodium in softened water without trouble. If you have kidney disease, ask your nephrologist whether softened water is safe for you.
Can I drink softened water if I have high blood pressure?
It depends on how much sodium your doctor wants you to limit. Some people with high blood pressure can tolerate softened water; others cannot. The safest approach is to tell your doctor how hard your water is and ask whether softened water fits your sodium budget. If it does not, a reverse osmosis filter or separate drinking line solves the problem.
Does boiling softened water remove the sodium?
No. Boiling removes some gases and can concentrate minerals, but it does not remove dissolved sodium. If you need low-sodium water, boiling softened water will not help. A reverse osmosis filter or distiller will remove sodium.
Is softened water safe for pets?
Yes, softened water is safe for dogs and cats. Pets do not have the same sodium restrictions that some humans do, and the amount of sodium in softened water is not a concern for them. If your pet has a specific health condition, ask your veterinarian.
What if I do not know how hard my water is?
Contact your water softener company or a local water testing lab and ask for a hardness test. You can also buy an inexpensive hardness test kit at a hardware store for $10 to $20, though a lab test is more accurate. Once you know your hardness level, you will know roughly how much sodium your softener is adding.