Hard Water vs Soft Water: Which is Healthier to Drink?

We’ve all heard a lot about hard water and soft water, but what are their effects, really? Are they safe to drink? The short answer is: yes! Most people can drink both hard and soft water without long-term negative impact on their health. There are, however, some difference between the two which may influence which one you may choose to steer more towards.

When it comes to hard water, you’re getting a water supply that has more calcium and magnesium elements to it. This will not harm you when consumed, but it can have a negative impact on your skin when used to wash yourself. The elements help contribute to dryness, plus they can imbalance your skin’s pH levels which can have negative effects such as increased eczema symptoms. While drinking it won’t hurt, having it in your pipes may make your washing experience less effective.

Soft water, on the other hand, will have less calcium and magnesium but will instead have higher concentrations of sodium in it. This is ideal for washing laundry and cleaning yourself, but
it does lead to a saltier and sometimes less palatable flavor in your water. Additionally, the high sodium may have adverse effects on those with heart conditions where things like salt are not recommended for consumption by a doctor. Lastly, soft water may be more likely to leech lead from older water pipes, so if you’re in an older home this may be a further consideration.

When it comes to choosing one over the other, the healthier and generally tastier water in the long-run will be hard water, though you will need to consider its effects on your skin if you have preexisting conditions.