How Much Sodium Does a Softener Add to Drinking Water

drinking water softener

Many homeowners often ask how much sodium will be added to their drinking water if they have a Water Softener. This is a common concern, so we’ve including some important information below to show that your softener does not add much sodium to your water.

A water softener adds about 9 to 18 mg of sodium per cup (8 oz) of water. That is based on a water hardness of 5 to 10 grains per gallon. If you follow your doctor’s orders and drink 8 cups of water per day, that would still only equal 72 to 144 mg for the entire day.

Sodium facts:

  • Per the FDA, a low sodium serving of one serving of any food type is less than 140 mg
  • Per the FDA – you should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day
  • Per the Mayo Clinic, the average person in the US consumes 3,400 mg of sodium per day
  • Most of your sodium comes from fast food and prepared foods, not your beverages

So, your soft water is a healthy beverage. Speaking of beverages, we’ve shared below how much sodium is in a few popular drinks.

Sodium Levels in Beverages:

  • Coca Cola – 15 mg per can
  • Diet Coke – 48 mg per can
  • Diet Pepsi – 35 mg per can
  • Softened water – 9-18 mg per cup (8 oz)
  • Budweiser – 11 mg per can (12 oz)
  • Red Wine – 6 mg per 8 oz
  • Mott’s Apple Juice – 10 mg (per 8 oz)
  • 1% Mild – 107 mg per cup (8 oz)

FYI: Salt is a combination of sodium chloride. Sodium is the mineral found in salt.

We hope these facts will ease your concerns about water softeners and your drinking water. Don’t be afraid to drink your soft water!