How to Make Softened Water Drinkable
(Newswire.net — January 3, 2019) — Altering the hardness of water might make it undrinkable, and this is mostly due to the fact that the ion exchange principle used to strip hard water of its minerals results in a spike in sodium levels. Calcium and magnesium ions all get replaced with sodium, so you find that soft water has a considerably high sodium content. So are you looking for ways on how to make softened water drinkable? This article will go into detail about all of the key points revolving around softened water and how you can ensure that you’re not drinking too much sodium.
Making Softened Water Drinkable
Sodium is a mineral we need to have in our diets. Though sodium chloride—otherwise known as table salt—is probably our biggest source of the mineral, it occurs naturally in other foods we eat. It is a vital component in certain cell functions, so having sodium in our diets is necessary for good health.
Sodium chloride is only about 40% sodium. In small or appropriate quantities, sodium is not harmful to us, but when too much sodium is present in the body, problems begin to manifest. Heart disease and high blood pressure cases have already been linked to high sodium levels in the blood, and as a result, the Water Quality Regulatory board restricts the ingestion of water with a sodium content higher than 200 mg/liter.
How Do You Ensure Softened Water is Drinkable?
First of all, it is important to note that water exists in various degrees of hardness. The harder the water is, the more minerals (calcium and magnesium) it contains, and the more sodium is produced during the ion exchange process. Softening water that is very hard will likely lead to high sodium levels.
Typically, water softeners add 46 mg/ liter of sodium for every 100 mg/liter of hardness minerals present in the water. Therefore, a softener will produce 184 mg/liter of sodium in water that contains 400 mg/liter of calcium carbonate, and that’s rather high.
To reduce water hardness, some people use osmosis water filters, which eliminate most of the minerals present in hard water. This way, the sodium levels remain low even after the softening process. Too much sodium is bad for our health, but how much is too much?
The average human being consumes 3240 mg of sodium on a daily basis—8.1 grams of salt, all of which comes from food, beverages, and water too. Water that contains 400 mg of calcium carbonate per liter is considered very hard, and using water softener will cause sodium levels to go beyond the recommended daily amount. Some places have predominantly hard water sources, and in such places, using a water softener outright is not a reliable way to make drinking water with a suitable sodium content.
Other Ways to Get Clean Drinking Water
If softening water in your region causes it to have higher than average sodium levels, you can drink it the way it is. Although if you’re looking for a way on how to make softened water drinkable, water softening experts at Clear Water Concepts mention that you should consider a hard water tap or reverse osmosis system can be just as ideal a source of drinking water provided you install filters for debris and bacterial contaminants. In some areas, drinking unsoftened water is mandatory as the alternative poses health risks due to high sodium levels. You can consult your local water company to learn about the hardness of the water in your region, and whether it is safe to drink softened water.
Bottom Line
Water is usually undrinkable due to its hardness level. That’s why many people have opted to implement water softeners in their home where the calcium and magnesium in the hard water gets replaced with sodium ions. Since soft water does have a decent amount of sodium in it, many people are skeptical of whether it’s drinkable or not. This article went over how to make softened water drinkable by using a hard water tap or reverse osmosis system to ensure that softened water is safe to drink.
Original Source: https://newswire.net/newsroom/blog-post/00106748-how-to-make-softened-water-drinkable.html
Original Date: Jan 3 2019