Nutrition Diet: What Happens When You Drink Softened Water?

October 24, 2025 •

4 min read

While a water softener benefits your appliances by removing hard minerals, it also alters the mineral content of your drinking water through an ion exchange process. A key nutritional consideration is the added sodium, which is why understanding what happens when you drink softened water is important for your diet and health.

Quick Summary

Drinking softened water replaces hard minerals with a small amount of sodium, which can influence overall dietary sodium intake and mineral consumption. It's safe for most healthy adults, but precautions are necessary for specific groups like infants or those on sodium-restricted diets.

Key Points

Sodium Level Increase: Softened water contains more sodium, proportional to the initial hardness, which is a concern for individuals on low-sodium diets and infants.
Mineral Loss: The process removes beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium; however, these are easily obtained from other dietary sources.
Taste and Feel Alterations: Expect a different taste and a 'slippery' feel when washing, as softened water lacks the minerals that cause stiffness.
Special Health Precautions: Infants and those with specific health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure) should consult a doctor and consider alternative drinking water sources.
Household Benefits: The primary benefits are for household appliances and plumbing, with softened water preventing limescale buildup and increasing efficiency.
Garden Risks: Do not water plants with softened water, as the sodium can build up in the soil and harm them.

The Science Behind Water Softening: The Ion Exchange Process

To understand the nutritional impact of softened water, it is important to first grasp how the process works. A traditional water softener uses a system of resin beads saturated with positively charged sodium ions. As hard water, which contains minerals like calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) and magnesium ($Mg^{2+}$), passes through this resin, an ion exchange takes place. The resin beads capture the calcium and magnesium ions, releasing sodium ions into the water in their place. While the amount of sodium is generally small, it is added in proportion to the water's initial hardness. This process makes the water 'soft,' preventing limescale buildup on pipes and appliances.

The Nutritional Implications

Sodium Intake

For most healthy adults, the extra sodium in softened water is not a significant health risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that typical sodium levels are not a concern, though taste may be affected at higher concentrations. For perspective, an average 8-ounce glass of moderately softened water contains only a fraction of the sodium found in a glass of milk. However, the added sodium can be a serious consideration for those on low-sodium diets or with specific health conditions like high blood pressure, heart, or kidney disease. Individuals in areas with very hard water may see more significant sodium increases, which can accumulate over a day.

Mineral Loss

One of the main nutritional changes is the removal of calcium and magnesium, which are valuable dietary minerals. While the inorganic form found in water is not the body's primary source, removing it eliminates a potential small contribution to your daily intake. For individuals with diets already rich in these minerals from foods like leafy greens, dairy, and nuts, this loss is typically insignificant. However, those concerned about their intake can easily find other dietary sources or supplements to compensate.

What to Expect When You Drink Softened Water

When consuming softened water, there are a few noticeable differences beyond just the mineral composition:

Taste: Many people notice a smoother, sometimes sweeter taste to softened water. This is because the metallic, earthy taste of hard minerals has been removed. Conversely, a small number of people may detect a slightly salty flavor, especially in areas with very hard water.
Feel: Soft water creates a sensation of slipperiness on the skin when washing, caused by soap lathering more effectively without mineral interference.
Specific Health Considerations: Beyond general sodium intake, there are particular groups who should avoid or limit consumption. The NHS and other health bodies advise against using softened water for preparing baby formula, as an infant's kidneys are not fully developed to handle the altered mineral balance. It is also unadvisable for individuals on medically prescribed low-sodium diets.

Hard Water vs. Softened Water: A Comparison


Feature	Hard Water	Softened Water
Mineral Content	High in calcium and magnesium.	Low in calcium and magnesium.
Sodium Content	Naturally low or absent, unless from the source.	Slightly elevated due to ion exchange, level depends on original hardness.
Taste	Can have a metallic or earthy taste.	Smoother, sometimes described as sweeter; can taste slightly salty if very hard initially.
Effects on Appliances	Causes limescale buildup, reducing lifespan and efficiency.	Prevents limescale, extending appliance longevity.
Lathering with Soap	Poor lathering, causes soap scum.	Excellent lathering, less soap needed.
Effects on Skin/Hair	Can cause dryness, irritation, and dull hair.	Can improve skin and hair health by preventing residue buildup.
Nutritional Contribution	Provides a small amount of calcium and magnesium.	Removes calcium and magnesium. Sodium is added.

Alternatives and Solutions for Drinking Water

For those who install a water softener but are concerned about drinking the water, several excellent solutions exist:

Separate Drinking Water Tap: Many homes install a dedicated tap in the kitchen that bypasses the water softener entirely, providing untreated hard water for drinking and cooking.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filtration: An RO system can be installed to purify softened water, effectively removing the added sodium and other contaminants. This provides a highly pure drinking water source while the rest of the house receives the benefits of softened water.
Potassium-Based Softeners: For those concerned about sodium, some softeners use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. However, this option is often more expensive.

The Impact on Plants and Gardens

It is generally not recommended to water plants with softened water. The increased sodium content can build up in the soil over time, interfering with a plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients, which can ultimately damage or kill the plant. A bypass tap is the best solution for garden and indoor plant watering.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision

For the average healthy person, drinking softened water is perfectly safe. The extra sodium added to soften the water is typically minimal and unlikely to pose a health risk. The primary benefits lie in the practical advantages for your home and personal care, such as preventing limescale and improving skin and hair health. However, certain groups, including infants and individuals on strict low-sodium diets, should avoid softened water and use a separate, unsoftened source. Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal health needs, diet, and water quality. If you have concerns, you can easily install a bypass tap or secondary filtration system to enjoy the benefits of soft water for your home while still having a safe, low-sodium drinking source available.

For more information on water quality, you can consult the Water Quality Association website.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most healthy individuals, drinking softened water is not bad for your health. The amount of sodium added during the softening process is generally very small and not considered a health risk. However, it is not recommended for infants or people on strict, medically-prescribed low-sodium diets due to the increased sodium content.

The amount of sodium added depends on the original hardness of the water. On average, for every grain of hardness removed, approximately 8 milligrams of sodium are added per liter. This means the harder your initial water, the higher the sodium increase will be in the softened water.

Most people do not notice a salty taste in softened water. In fact, some people prefer its smoother, slightly sweeter taste compared to the mineral-rich taste of hard water. However, in areas with extremely high initial water hardness, a slight salty taste may be detectable.

No, it is generally recommended not to use softened water for preparing baby formula, especially for infants under six weeks old. This is because the altered mineral balance can upset the infant's delicate system and potentially lead to dehydration. A separate unsoftened tap or bottled water is advised.

Individuals with high blood pressure or those on a sodium-restricted diet should consult their doctor before drinking softened water. The additional sodium, while minimal for most, could be a concern for those managing hypertension.

You have several options. The most common is to install a separate tap at your kitchen sink that draws water from the supply before it goes through the softener. Another option is a reverse osmosis system, which can filter the sodium out of your drinking water.

It is not recommended to use softened water for plants and gardens. The added sodium can accumulate in the soil over time, which can harm plants by interfering with their water and nutrient absorption.