Health Effects of Drinking Softened Water
Drinking Softened Water Questions
Is softened water suitable for drinking purposes? Is softened water suitable for drinking purposes?
This is a matter of personal choice. In the majority of cases softened water will be considered wholesome and is therefore safe to drink – but the answer is not always straightforward as there are some qualifications.
In most of the UK, when hard drinking water (supplied by a water company) is softened with a salt regenerated ion exchange water softener, the softened water is likely to comply with the Drinking Water Regulations1. Provided the concentration of sodium does not exceed 200 mg/l it would be regarded as wholesome and therefore considered safe to drink over the long term.
1 Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000
However, in some parts of the UK where the drinking water is very hard, the softening process will produce water with an increased sodium content that may not comply with the regulations and would therefore be considered unwholesome. In such cases it would not be suitable for drinking purposes for specific sectors of the population.