Get It Straight: Hard Truths About Soft Water

If you’ve ever turned to the internet for information about hard water or water softening systems, you’ve likely noticed the glut of contradictory information floating about. Some websites champion soft water and water softeners, usually because they sell them, while others denounce soft water as a blight on human and environmental health.

Any smart consumer can see that most of the “soft water facts” out there are heavily biased, either to sell a product or further a cause.

As such, we at Clean Water Systems wanted to offer an unbiased look at soft water, water softeners, and salt-free water conditioners in the interest of educating you, the consumer, and helping to stop the propagation of unfounded myths and other so-called “facts.”

What Does a Water Softener Do?

One popular misconception that we hear often is that ion exchange is not the only way of softening water. In fact, water softening, as it is commonly thought of, is only possible via the exchange of calcium/magnesium ions for sodium ions. Other systems purport to soften water without salt, but these systems are water conditioners, not water softeners.

No-salt systems do not remove hardness minerals but rather trap them and form them into insoluble crystal particles that cannot adhere to pipes or fixtures and thus cannot build up the scale deposits that are hard water’s trademark symptom. The “water softness” does not change, but it prevents scale from forming pipes and fixtures.

Some new technologies, such as capacitive deionization, are on the horizon, but they also have some drawbacks, so for real water softening, where the hardness is removed, a water softener is still the best approach.

Some sources suggest using a reverse osmosis system to soften water. This is technically possible, though impractical, as any water softened through an RO system must first be pre-treated with an antiscalant to prevent buildup on the RO membrane.

Further, using an RO system to remove hardness minerals is much more wasteful than simply using a water softener, as RO systems create about a gallon of wastewater for every purified gallon of water.

Soft Water Health Effects

One argument against softeners is that they use ion exchange is these standard traditional salt-based water softeners add sodium to water and are thus responsible for deleterious health effects in humans.

This argument is not completely unfounded: as mentioned, water softeners function by replacing calcium/magnesium ions with sodium ions, so water softened with a softener is bound to contain more sodium than it did before treatment. However, the amount of salt added to all but the hardest water supplies is small, well below the dietary recommendations.

Note, however, that this extra sodium that ends up in your water gets washed out with your water to streams and lakes and oceans, and this sodium, which may be harmless to you in small amounts, can add up and eventually take some toll on wildlife creatures and habitats.

In some areas where municipal water is reused for agricultural and recreational uses, water softeners have even been banned due to the belief that they are responsible for increased chloride levels in the reclaimed water.

And what of the taste differences? Some people feel that softened water tastes better, while others swear by hard water and even suggest that drinking softened water, which lacks the minerals found in hard water, can deprive one's body of essential minerals. As noted above, the amount of minerals found in drinking water in most places in the United States is so small as to be negligible in the context of a daily nutritional requirement.

At the end of the day, the choice to drink hard or soft water is unlikely to affect your health and is generally decided more based on personal or aesthetic preference than on health concerns.

Such aesthetic preferences are usually the primary factor in the decision to soften hard water for bathing purposes, though in this instance, soft water can actually offer some concrete advantages due to its chemical composition.

Soft water, without calcium and magnesium ions, causes soap to lather more easily, and to stick to the skin rather than precipitate soap scum out into the water. With soft water, you can cut back on harsh detergents and bleach by 50% of more.

Soft water extends the life of clothes, as hard water will wear down fibers, which is one reason all commercial laundries use soft water.

Soft water saves energy by eliminating scale build-up in water heaters, and dramatically extends the life of fixtures and appliances, saving thousands of dollars over the cost of the softener.

So, is soft water better than hard water? The answer depends almost entirely on how hard your water is.

Hardness 1 – 100 ppm (calcium carbonate)

If your water is in the range of 1 to 100 ppm of hardness, it is considered relatively ‘soft' water. Water hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium (usually from limestone rock from ground water sources) that is in your water.

Natural waters may range from close to zero hardness to many hundreds of parts per million. In our experience, water over 100 to 150 ppm (which can also be expressed as approximately 8 – 10 grains/gallon) is hard enough to warrant water softening, so it is likely not needed for this type of water.

Hardness 100 – 200 ppm (calcium carbonate)

Water with a hardness of 100 to 200 ppm is considered moderately ‘hard'. Natural waters may range from close to zero hardness to many hundreds of parts per million.

In our experience, water over 100 to 150 ppm (which also can be expressed as approximately 8 – 10 grains/gallon) is hard enough to warrant water softening.

At levels of 100 to 200 ppm (or approximately 6 to 12 grains per gallon of hardness), water softening or a no-salt water conditioner is an excellent money-saving home improvement. It reduces white spotting on fixtures and surfaces, extends the life of plumbing and appliances, and softens clothes, hair, and skin.

Commercial facilities such as commercial launders, hospitals, and hotels use water softening to reduce costs and extend the life of equipment and laundered items. Most soaps and detergents on the market today are loaded with chemicals and salts designed to break down this soap scum and allow the soap to work in hard water, and softening hard water eliminates the use of these harsh chemicals and detergents.

By softening your water, you can reduce by up to 80% the amount of soap and detergents you use, your clothes will come out cleaner and whiter, and your hair and skin will be softer without the use of conditioners or lotions.

Total hardness is defined as the sum of the concentration of the calcium and magnesium ions, expressed as calcium carbonate. Hardness can be expressed as calcium carbonate in either parts per million (the same as milligrams per liter) or grains per gallon.

Since automatic water softeners are rated in grains of hardness removal, this is the more common measurement used by U.S. consumers. One grain of hardness equals approximately 17.1 ppm of calcium carbonate hardness. So, 10 grains of hardness can also be expressed as 171 ppm of calcium carbonate.

The term “hardness” originally referred to the ability of water to precipitate soap and form soap scum. Soap is precipitated (or brought to the “surface”) by water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium. The “harder” the water, the less natural soap will dissolve in the water.

Hardness 200 – 700 ppm (calcium carbonate)

Water with 200 to 700 ppm hardness is considered very hard. Natural water can range from near zero to hundreds of ppm. In this range—about 12 to 40 grains per gallon—water is classified as hard.

A water softener is a smart, money-saving home upgrade. It helps reduce white spots on sinks and fixtures and extends the life of plumbing and appliances. Clothes, skin, and hair feel softer after washing with softened water.

Commercial sites like laundromats, hospitals, and hotels use softeners. They save money and protect equipment and laundry from damage.

Most soaps and detergents are full of salts and chemicals. These are made to help soap work in hard water. A water softener reduces or eliminates the need for harsh cleaners.

With soft water, you can cut soap and detergent use by up to 80%. Clothes come out cleaner and brighter. Hair and skin feel softer—without added products.

Generally, we do not recommend no-salt water conditioners for this type of hard water.

Hardness Over 700 ppm (calcium carbonate)

Water that is over 700 ppm hard is considered extremely ‘hard' water. Natural waters may range from close to zero hardness to many hundreds of parts per million.

In our experience, water over 700 ppm is extremely hard and will definitely have a serious effect on your household fixtures, piping, and appliances. Water of this hardness requires a special type of heavy-duty softener system, see our recommendations below.

Water softening is an excellent money-saving home improvement. It reduces white spotting on fixtures and surfaces, extends the life of plumbing and appliances, and softens clothes, hair, and skin.

Commercial facilities such as commercial launderers, hospitals, and hotels use water softening to reduce costs and extend the life of equipment and laundered items.

Most soaps and detergents on the market today are loaded with chemicals and salts designed to break down this soap scum and allow the soap to work in hard water, and softening hard water eliminates the use of these harsh chemicals and detergents.

By using a water softener, you can reduce the amount of soap and detergent you use by up to 80%. Your clothes will come out cleaner and whiter, and your hair and skin will be softer without the use of conditioners or lotions.

We do not recommend no-salt water conditioners for this type of hard water.

What About Drinking Softened Water?

One of the perennial discussions around water softening is its implications on health when consumed. Softened water has had its hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) significantly reduced and usually contains higher sodium levels as a result of the ion exchange process. This has led to a few myths and concerns about potential health impacts regarding drinking water and additional sodium.

Myth 1: High Blood Pressure and Soft Water

Some people worry that the increased sodium in softened water can contribute to heart disease. However, the sodium increase is relatively minor; for every grain of hardness removed, about 8 milligrams of sodium is added per liter of water. For most individuals without severe sodium restrictions, this amount is inconsequential when compared to the sodium in a typical diet. It's always important to consider the overall diet rather than focusing on a single source of sodium.

Myth 2: You Miss Out on Essential Minerals

There's a myth that you're missing out on essential minerals by drinking softened water. While it's true that hard water can be a source of calcium and magnesium, these minerals are much better obtained through a balanced diet. The quantities in hard water are not sufficient to rely on as a primary source of these nutrients.

Myth 3: Softened Water Tastes Salty

Some consumers fear that softened water tastes salty, but this is rarely the case. The ion exchange process may increase sodium content but not to levels that significantly affect taste for most people. It's worth noting that the taste threshold for sodium in water is generally much higher than the levels found in softened water.

Health Considerations: Drinking Softened Water

Softened water is generally safe to drink. However, people on low-sodium diets may choose potassium chloride instead of salt. Another option is using a separate drinking water filter. Softened water hydrates just as well as hard water. The lower mineral content has little impact on overall health.

The Bottom Line

Thinking about drinking softened water? It’s important to separate myths from facts. For most people, softened water is safe to drink. The small increase in sodium is minimal. Missing minerals from hard water don’t impact your overall intake much.

If you're still concerned, test your water for sodium. Compare the results with recommended dietary guidelines. You can also talk to a healthcare provider for advice.

Softened water offers many benefits. It protects appliances, prevents scale buildup, and helps soaps and detergents work better—without major health risks.