How much sodium a water softener adds in Valley water
Softening swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium. The amount depends on how hard your water was to start with, and in the Valley that varies a lot from city to city.
The rule of thumb
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, citing the Water Quality Association, puts it at about 8 milligrams of sodium per litre for each grain per gallon of hardness removed. North Dakota State University Extension gives the same figure. So the harder your water, the more sodium softening adds.
Sodium added in Valley cities
| Water | Hardness (gpg) | Sodium added by softening |
|---|---|---|
| Surprise, Mountain Vista | 3.9 | about 31 mg/L |
| Gilbert | 10.8 | about 86 mg/L |
| Phoenix (middle of range) | 13.8 | about 110 mg/L |
| Mesa, Eastern and Southern Zones | 16 | about 128 mg/L |
| Chandler | 16.5 | about 132 mg/L |
These assume all the hardness is removed and are added to whatever sodium the water already has.
Ways to cut it
- Potassium chloride in place of salt: no sodium added, though more is used and it costs more.
- A reverse osmosis tap for drinking and cooking: it removes most of the sodium again.
- Leave a cold tap unsoftened: some installers can plumb the kitchen cold tap to bypass the softener.
Keeping it in proportion
For most people softened water is a small part of daily sodium. Anyone told to limit sodium should ask their doctor, and can avoid it entirely with one of the options above.
Common questions
- Is softened water safe to drink?
- Softened water is drunk in many homes. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, ask your doctor, and consider potassium chloride or a reverse osmosis tap for drinking water.
- Does potassium chloride work as well as salt?
- It softens, but North Dakota State University Extension notes that about 10 percent more is used, and it costs more per bag.
- Does a salt-free system add sodium?
- No, but it also doesn't remove hardness.