Chapter and Verse on Health Effects of Drinking Softened Water
Drinking water supplies in the UK are of a very high quality. There is however a considerable variation in the level of hardness, due to regional differences in geology. Although rainwater is naturally soft it tends to pick up minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, as it seeps through the ground. When it passes through soft rocks, like chalk and limestone, it can pick up high levels of these minerals and result in hard water.
Hard water causes many problems: scaling and subsequent loss of boiler efficiency, formation of scum on sanitary ware, increased use of cleaning products and subsequent expenditure, extra household cleaning, aggravation of eczema etc. To remove these problems many people fit a water softener.
Water softeners work by treating the water by ion exchange to remove the hardness minerals and replace them with sodium which does not cause scaling. Water softeners are commonly installed in private and commercial premises and the question is often posed: is the softened water suitable for drinking purposes?
This section of our site has been written to explain to consumers the opinions relating to the drinking of softened water and the options available. It incorporates the current scientific, regulatory and industry points of view and advice.
It is divided into the following sections:
- Is softened water suitable for drinking purposes?
- Is there a legal requirement for a separate tap to provide un-softened water for drinking?
- Who recommends a separate tap to provide un-softened water for drinking?
- Why is a separate tap to provide un-softened water recommended?
- What actually happens when you soften water by ion exchange?
- Why is it considered that drinking softened water could be detrimental to health?
- How much sodium is added to water during softening?
- Yes, but how much salt is that?
- I thought salt was bad for you?
- Can I use softened water for mixing baby feeds if the sodium complies with the Water Regulations?
- How can I find out how much sodium will be in my water when softened?
- But what about the removal of hardness?
- How many people drink softened water?
- What does softened water taste like?
- Can I have a tap supplying unsoftened water somewhere other than at the kitchen sink?
- But what about the regulations?