Is Softened Water Safe to Drink?

This is one of the most common questions we get from customers considering a water softener. The answer is nuanced — softened water is safe for the vast majority of people, but there are specific situations where an unsoftened drinking supply is recommended. Here's everything you need to know.

How does a water softener change your water?

A water softener works through a process called ion exchange. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium ions. As the water passes through the softener's resin bed, these ions are exchanged for sodium ions. The calcium and magnesium are removed; a small amount of sodium is added in their place. The water is otherwise unchanged — it's still your normal mains water, just without the minerals that cause hardness.

Is the sodium level safe?

For most healthy adults, yes. The amount of sodium added by a water softener is small. In an area like Sussex with hardness around 300–320ppm, softening adds approximately 200–220mg of sodium per litre of water. To put that in context, a single slice of bread contains around 200mg of sodium. The World Health Organisation's daily sodium intake guideline is 2,000mg — so even drinking two litres of softened water per day contributes a relatively small amount to your total intake.

Who should avoid drinking softened water?

Despite the low sodium levels, there are specific groups for whom an unsoftened drinking supply is recommended:

• Infants and babies — baby formula should always be made with unsoftened water. Babies' kidneys are not fully developed and cannot process additional sodium as efficiently as adults.
• People on clinically supervised low-sodium diets — anyone advised by a doctor to restrict sodium intake for medical reasons should use an unsoftened supply for drinking and cooking.
• People with kidney disease, heart conditions or hypertension — where sodium management is critical, an unsoftened drinking tap is advisable.

What is a drinking water bypass tap?

A drinking water bypass tap is a separate tap fitted at the kitchen sink that provides unsoftened cold mains water. It runs alongside your regular hot and cold taps, giving you a dedicated unsoftened supply for drinking and cooking while the rest of your home benefits from softened water. We strongly recommend adding a bypass tap to every installation — it's a modest additional cost and gives you complete peace of mind.

Does softened water taste different?

Many people prefer the taste of softened water — it's smoother and doesn't have the slight mineral aftertaste that very hard water can have. Others prefer the taste of unsoftened water, which is why having both options via a bypass tap is the ideal setup for most households.

Our recommendation

Install a water softener for all the household benefits — no limescale, better appliance efficiency, softer skin and hair. Add a drinking water bypass tap for a dedicated unsoftened supply at the kitchen sink. This gives every member of your household the right water for every purpose.