You should not drink water from a water softener, and most systems are designed so you cannot
Water softeners remove minerals like calcium and magnesium by swapping them for sodium. The water that comes out of a softener is not harmful in small amounts, but it is not meant for drinking because the sodium content is too high for regular consumption. A person drinking softened water as their main water source would take in far more sodium than health guidelines recommend.
Most water softeners have a bypass valve or a separate tap that delivers unsoftened water to your kitchen sink specifically so you have drinking and cooking water that has not been treated. If your system does not have this setup, you should install one. The cost is usually between $100 and $300 for the valve and installation, and it takes a plumber a few hours.
Key Takeaways
- Softened water contains added sodium and should not be your main drinking water source.
- Most water softeners include a bypass line that delivers unsoftened water to at least one kitchen tap for drinking and cooking.
- If your softener does not have a bypass, a plumber can install one for $100 to $300.
- Softened water is safe for washing, bathing, and cleaning, and actually works better for those tasks than hard water.
- People on sodium-restricted diets should be especially careful to use only unsoftened water for drinking and cooking.
How much sodium ends up in softened water
The amount of sodium in softened water depends on how hard your water is to begin with. A water softener removes hardness by trading calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions. The harder your water, the more sodium the softener adds. Water that starts at 10 grains per gallon of hardness (a common level) will have roughly 100 to 150 milligrams of sodium per liter after softening.
For comparison, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. If you drank two liters of softened water daily, you would get 200 to 300 milligrams from the water alone — not a crisis, but a meaningful amount when you also consume sodium from food. For someone on a low-sodium diet due to high blood pressure or heart disease, even this amount matters.
Very hard water (above 15 grains per gallon) produces softened water with even more sodium. If your water is extremely hard, the sodium content can reach 300 milligrams per liter or higher, which makes drinking it a real concern for anyone watching their intake.
Why the bypass tap exists and how to use it
A bypass valve lets unsoftened water flow directly to one or more taps without going through the softener. Most new systems come with this built in. The bypass is usually a three-way valve near the softener tank, and it has a handle or lever you can turn to switch between softened and unsoftened water.
In practice, you leave the bypass set to send unsoftened water to your kitchen sink (or sometimes to a separate cold-water tap). All other water in the house — showers, washing machine, outdoor hose — comes from the softened line. This setup gives you the benefit of soft water for cleaning while keeping your drinking water free of added sodium.
If your softener was installed without a bypass, or if the bypass is broken, you have two options: install a bypass valve yourself (if you are comfortable with plumbing) or hire a plumber. A professional installation usually takes one to two hours and costs $100 to $300 depending on your location and the complexity of your plumbing.
What happens if you drink softened water regularly
Drinking softened water occasionally will not hurt you. The sodium is not toxic at the levels found in treated water. The problem is chronic intake — if softened water is your only water source for months or years, the extra sodium adds up and can contribute to high blood pressure, especially in people who are already at risk.
People with kidney disease, heart failure, or cirrhosis should avoid softened water entirely as drinking water, because their bodies cannot regulate sodium the way a healthy person's can. Even people without these conditions should not make softened water their primary drinking source if they can avoid it.
Children and infants should never drink softened water regularly. Their bodies are smaller and their kidneys are still developing, so sodium intake has a bigger impact. If you have an infant and your water is very hard, talk to your pediatrician about alternatives like bottled water for formula and drinking.
Softened water is fine for everything else
Softened water is actually better than hard water for bathing, washing clothes, and cleaning. Soft water lathers more easily with soap, rinses more completely, and leaves less buildup on skin and hair. Your clothes will feel softer and last longer because soft water does not leave mineral deposits in the fibers. Dishes and shower doors will not develop the white film that hard water leaves behind.
You can safely use softened water to cook pasta, rice, and vegetables. The small amount of sodium added during cooking is not a concern for most people. The only exception is if you are on a very strict sodium-restricted diet — in that case, use unsoftened water for cooking as well as drinking.
When to consider a different water treatment method
If you are on a sodium-restricted diet and your water is very hard, a water softener with a bypass may not be enough. Some people in this situation choose a reverse osmosis system instead, which removes minerals without adding sodium. Reverse osmosis is more expensive (usually $300 to $1,000 installed) and produces less water per day, but it gives you soft water that is also low in sodium.
Another option is a potassium-based softener instead of a sodium-based one. These systems swap hardness minerals for potassium instead of sodium. They cost more upfront (roughly 20 to 30 percent more than sodium softeners) and the salt cartridges are more expensive to replace, but they add no sodium to your water. Potassium softeners are a good choice if you have high blood pressure or are on a low-sodium diet and want soft water throughout your house.
If your water hardness is mild (under 7 grains per gallon), you might not need a softener at all. Some people in this situation use a water conditioner or a whole-house filter instead, which reduces mineral buildup without adding sodium. Talk to a water treatment professional about what makes sense for your specific water and your health needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink softened water if I only have a little bit?
Yes. A glass or two of softened water will not harm you. The concern is regular daily consumption over weeks or months. If you accidentally drink softened water once or twice, there is no risk.
What if my softener does not have a bypass and I cannot afford to install one?
Buy bottled water for drinking and cooking until you can install a bypass. A case of bottled water costs $3 to $5 and lasts several days for one person. This is cheaper than a bypass installation and keeps you from consuming extra sodium in the meantime.
Is softened water safe for pets?
Pets can drink softened water in small amounts without harm, but it should not be their only water source. If you have a pet on a sodium-restricted diet (some heart conditions require this), use unsoftened water for their bowl.
Does boiling softened water remove the sodium?
No. Boiling does not remove dissolved sodium. The sodium stays in the water no matter how long you heat it. Only reverse osmosis or distillation removes sodium from softened water.
Can I use a water filter pitcher to remove sodium from softened water?
Standard pitcher filters (like Brita or PUR) do not remove sodium. They remove chlorine and some other contaminants, but not dissolved minerals or sodium. You would need a reverse osmosis pitcher, which is more expensive and slower to filter.