Softened water is generally safe to drink, but the answer depends on your water hardness level and how your softener works
Most people can drink softened water without health problems. Water softeners remove minerals like calcium and magnesium by swapping them for sodium (salt) through a process called ion exchange. The amount of sodium added is usually small—often less than what you'd get from a slice of bread—but it does increase slightly with every glass you drink from a softened system.
The real question is not whether softened water is toxic, but whether the sodium content matters for your situation. For most households, the answer is no. For people on sodium-restricted diets, pregnant women, or those with certain health conditions, it may be worth considering alternatives like drinking unsoftened water from a separate tap or using a different treatment method.
Key Takeaways
- Softened water contains added sodium from the ion exchange process, but the amount in a glass or two per day is minimal for most people.
- People with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems, or on doctor-ordered sodium restrictions should talk to their doctor before regularly drinking softened water.
- Infants under six months should not drink softened water because their kidneys cannot handle the sodium load.
- Installing a separate unsoftened tap in your kitchen gives you the choice without removing softening benefits from the rest of your home.
- The sodium content in softened water varies based on how hard your water is—harder water requires more salt in the softening process.
How much sodium actually ends up in your glass
The sodium level in softened water depends directly on how hard your water was before treatment. A water softener removes hardness by trading calcium and magnesium ions for sodium ions. The harder your water, the more sodium gets added to reach the same softness level.
For example, water with 300 parts per million (ppm) of hardness might end up with 200 to 300 mg of sodium per liter after softening. Water with 100 ppm hardness might add only 50 to 100 mg per liter. A typical 8-ounce glass contains roughly 25 to 100 mg of sodium from a softened system, depending on your starting hardness. For comparison, a slice of white bread contains about 150 mg of sodium, and a can of soup can contain 800 mg or more.
You can find out your water's hardness by asking your water utility for a water quality report, or by testing it yourself with an inexpensive test kit from a hardware store. Knowing this number helps you decide whether the sodium level matters for your household.
Who should avoid drinking softened water regularly
Certain groups should limit or avoid softened water as their main drinking source. Infants under six months old should not drink softened water because their kidneys are still developing and cannot process sodium the way older children and adults can. If you have a softener and a baby in the house, use unsoftened water for formula and drinking.
People with high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or cirrhosis of the liver may need to restrict sodium intake on doctor's orders. If your doctor has told you to watch your sodium, ask them specifically about softened water—they may say it is fine in your case, or they may recommend you drink unsoftened water instead. Do not assume softened water is off-limits without asking; the amount of sodium may be small enough that it does not matter for your situation.
Pregnant women on sodium-restricted diets should also check with their doctor. Most pregnant women do not need to restrict sodium, but some with specific conditions do, and softened water could be a factor worth discussing.
Installing a separate tap for unsoftened water
The simplest way to have both softened and unsoftened water in your home is to install a separate cold-water tap at your kitchen sink that bypasses the softener. This is a common setup and does not require removing or replacing your softener.
A plumber can run a line from the main water supply directly to a new faucet before the water reaches your softener tank. The cost is usually between $150 and $400 depending on how far the water line has to travel and local labor rates. You can then use the softened water for washing dishes, laundry, and bathing—where it reduces soap scum and extends appliance life—while drinking and cooking with unsoftened water.
If you rent or do not want to hire a plumber, you can also buy bottled water for drinking and cooking, or install a point-of-use filter pitcher in your refrigerator. These are less convenient than a dedicated tap but cost nothing upfront.
Other water treatment options if sodium is a concern
If you want soft water but are concerned about sodium, a few alternatives exist, though each has trade-offs. Potassium chloride softeners work the same way as salt-based softeners but swap hardness minerals for potassium instead of sodium. They cost more upfront (usually $200 to $500 more than a salt softener) and are not available everywhere, but they add no sodium. Check with local water treatment companies to see if they offer this option in your area.
Reverse osmosis systems remove minerals, salt, and other dissolved solids from water, producing very pure water with almost no sodium. They are expensive ($800 to $2,500 installed) and waste some water in the process, but they work well for people who need very low sodium intake. These are usually installed under the sink and produce drinking water only, not whole-house soft water.
Magnetic or electronic descalers claim to reduce scale buildup without removing minerals or adding sodium. The science behind them is disputed, and they do not produce the same softening effect as ion exchange softeners. If you are considering one, research the specific model and read independent reviews before buying.
Testing your water and tracking sodium intake
If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, you can measure exactly how much sodium your softened water contains. Buy a water test kit that measures sodium (available online or at hardware stores for $15 to $40), or send a sample to a certified lab for about $50 to $100. This gives you a precise number instead of an estimate.
Once you know the sodium content, you can calculate how much you are getting per day. If your softened water contains 100 mg of sodium per liter and you drink one liter per day, that is 100 mg of sodium from water alone. If your doctor has set a daily sodium limit of 2,000 mg (common for people with high blood pressure), that one liter uses 5 percent of your allowance. For most people this is not a problem, but for someone with strict limits, it might matter.
Keep in mind that sodium from water is just one source. Processed foods, canned goods, cheese, bread, and restaurant meals contain far more sodium than softened water. If you are tracking sodium for health reasons, focus on those sources first—they typically account for 75 to 80 percent of daily sodium intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink softened water every day?
Yes, most people can drink softened water every day without problems. The sodium added is small compared to typical daily intake from food. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems, or are on a doctor-ordered sodium restriction, ask your doctor whether the sodium level in your specific softened water matters for your situation.
Will softened water hurt my kidneys?
Softened water does not damage healthy kidneys. People with existing kidney disease should discuss softened water with their doctor because their kidneys may be more sensitive to sodium, but the small amount in drinking water is usually not a concern. Infants and very young children are the exception—their kidneys are still developing and cannot handle the sodium load.
Is softened water bad for plants or pets?
Softened water is safe for most pets and plants in normal amounts. Some plants are sensitive to sodium and may show leaf damage or stunted growth if watered exclusively with softened water over time. If you have houseplants or a garden, use unsoftened water when you can, or alternate between softened and unsoftened water.
What if I have very hard water—will the sodium be too high?
Very hard water (over 300 ppm) will result in more sodium in the softened water, but still usually within safe limits for most people. Test your water to know the exact sodium level, then decide based on your health situation. If sodium is a concern, a potassium chloride softener or reverse osmosis system may be better choices.
Do I need to change my softener settings to reduce sodium in the water?
Adjusting softener settings will not significantly reduce sodium—the amount added is determined by how hard your water is, not by the machine's settings. To lower sodium, you would need to switch to a potassium-based softener, install a separate unsoftened tap, or use a different treatment method like reverse osmosis.