Can I drink the water generated by my water softener?

[anythoughtswelcomed]

My DH is in the process of installing a water softener, a big expensive box thing which you divert all the water through that just fits under the sink with salt it it, rather than a little completely pointless thing that attaches to the pipe work. There is going to be a separate kitchen tap for the drinking water. But the connection that connects this tap to the mains pipes is out of stock and probably won't be in till after Xmas, can I drink the softened water? I've looked it up on line and some say you can assuming you can tolerate the taste.

[dementedpixie]

Will it not contain too much sodium?

[80sMum]

I think you can, yes. DS has one and all his family drinks the softened water. I don't like it, so always use the separate tap.

[PandasRock]

Assuming it is like the one we had in our last house (big assumption!) then yes, you can.

Our softener was connected to all taps, apart from the one in the laundry. The only warning/proviso we had was that the water (apart from the laundry, obvs) was not suitable for making up babies' bottles (due to salt content, I think). We all drank the water fine, with no ill effect.

[80sMum]

www.ukwaterservices.com/drinking-softened-water

[notafanofwinter]

We do occasionally, I fill my coffee machine so it doesn't fur up and if anyone drinks in the bathrooms it's softened water.
I think for babies and possibly people with high blood pressure it wouldn't be a great idea but for a family in the short term no problem.

[ggirl]

its a fallacy that softened water contains salt
you can drink softened water
all the softener is doing is removing the calcium
not adding anything
the salt is used to wash the water or something like that

I have had in depth info from softener man this week and asked same question.

[BikeRunSki]

You can, but it's revolting.

[ggirl]

well just read that link and now I am

[dementedpixie]

It does contain sodium which is why you don't use it to make formula

[dementedpixie]

Of course they say it's ok, they sell them!

[dementedpixie]

watersoftenerfacts.ca/faqs/?open=safe-to-drink - this link says not to drink it

[PigletJohn]

it contains a tiny amount of bicarbonate of soda (as used in baking powder and indigestion remedies), not salt.

The sodium count is lower than coke.

I don't know why people claim that the sodium level is above safe limits, but it isn't true.

If you are on a low-sodium diet, so you don't eat, for example, bread, cornflakes, cake or soluble paracetamol, then by all means drink hard water. Not bottled water, though, some of which contains more sodium than water from a softener. And if you have an FF baby who never touches marmite, hard water is probably better.

It is thought that hard water is better for the heart, so by all means drink hard water if you want to.

I did have a link showing the sodium content in a gallon of softened water, which is much less than in, say, a slice of bread, but I can't find it.

[PigletJohn]

oh, I see some comparative figures in 80'smum's link

"Let’s compare the sodium content of a glass of typical London water that has been softened with that of other foods & drinks in our diet:

1 glass of water 25mg of sodium
1 glass of bottled mineral water 116mg of sodium
1 glass of skimmed milk 10mg of sodium
1 glass of whole milk 98mg of sodium
1 slice of white bread 350mg of sodium
1 tablespoon of tomato sauce 300mg of sodium
1 serving of cheddar cheese 820mg of sodium
1 serving of strawberry yoghurt 215mg of sodium
1 slice of apple pie 406mg of sodium
1 pork sausage 210mg of sodium
1 serving of tomato soup 667mg of sodium"

[LexLoofah]

It is horrible to drink. Well I don't like the taste anyway, use a filter

[anythoughtswelcomed]

Brilliant piglet many thanks we not on a low sodium diet so it's not going to be an issue.
I've never heard that hard water is better for you heart is that really true?
Our water is terribly hard he (we're on chalk) and some say there's a much higher incidence of kidney stones in the area don't know how true that it. Ido know every dam thing is covered in lime scale. I'm originally from West Devon where the water is as soft as butter but when I go back I now think it tastes revolting.

[PigletJohn]

from what I hear (I am not a health professional) there does seem to be a correlation, from looking at disease rates in countries with different water hardness. There may be other factors at work.

You can get Brita jugs and drinking water filter cartridges for those miniature drinking water taps, that work in a different way and do not put in additional sodium.

[ladynyland]

I have a Eco Water Softener and we drink the water I think it is just down to personnel taste. I really researched this before we had one fitted and read all the government guidelines. We had a hard water tap installed in case we did not like the taste but we never use it.

[laurapresa]

@ladynyland what brand did you buy?

[CloudIllusions]

I was told not to, and don't give it to plants either.
I have an RO filter for drinking water with a separate tap.

[hiddenmnetter]

Its fine to drink- it does taste different but we have it filtered through the fridge which gets rid of the taste

[justkeepmoving]

Any of these replies could be correct. if you have a modern quality softener and it is set up correctly and your water is not too hard and you are not on a low sodium diet - then you can safely drink the water. But if if any of those do not apply then its not recommended.

[laurapresa]

Hi @justkeepmoving, can you recommend any brands in particular?