Drinking water / water softeners / whole house systems

[LVRebel]

My recent health circumstances has me asking some questions, and looking for clarity on drinking water. In my area of the country, we have really hard water, and a lot of houses have water softeners. I've read different things about water softeners and how they're hooked up, but am not clear on how I would be able to tell the difference as to whether it's running all of the house water through it, or just the hot water loop. Does anyone know how I could verify that?

My next question is in regards to whether drinking water is safe if it's run through a water softener. Some of the sites I've visited say yes, and others say no. Basically, there would be a certain amount of salt in the water, so I guess it depends on the levels as to whether it's deemed healthy or not, by governmental standards. A lot of people have a separate reverse osmosis system at their sink to use for drinking water, but at the same time, my family (and most others I know) have a water access on the refrigerator, and all of the ice being created just runs from the standard cold water loop in the house. So if this both hot and cold water lines are softened, then it's providing the softened salt water through the refrigerator, and thus, to the water spout and ice maker in the fridge. Is this healthy?

What about those whole house filtration systems that don't use salt? Are those effective? I've seen some advertised locally, but they're quite expensive, like 5-6k. If they're super effective, and can remove the particulates in the water, reduce the hardness, and make the drinking water safe, then it may be worth the investment.

I'm not sure what the best way to get some of these answers would be. Perhaps calling one of these companies that sell the whole house system, and having them run some tests on my current water, and then go from there. Otherwise, do you guys have any recommendations on a good whole house system, or best ways to test the quality, hardness, and salt levels in the water?

Spoiler: Water is good (Maybe NSFW)

 

[LVRebel]

This article says the amount of salt in soft water is really of no concern in terms of health.

How Much Sodium Does a Softener Add to Drinking Water | Salt in Water

Many homeowners question how much sodium should be added to their water if they have a water softener. Learn more about sodium levels in drinking water here.

www.h2oequipment.com

 

[LVRebel]

This article says that soft water is not safe for human or pet consumption. Not sure of the validity of the sources on these.

What is Soft Water and Why You Should NEVER Drink it!

What is soft water, why you should NEVER ever drink it and what types of safer water should you drink instead?

www.mrwatergeek.com

 

[Long Cat V2.0]

You have utility water or well water? If utility you should be able to find water quality reports that detail what is in your water published by your utility. I’d look at that and figure out what you might want removed and then Talk to the sales guys or just read up on the treatment systems.

Different utilities want different levels of hardness and water quality goals can change over time. A lot of times if a plant provides very soft water (like a membrane treatment system, most common is reverse osmosis) there is a raw water bypass that lets the utility blend hard raw water with the soft permeate the hit their desired water quality. Other common plants add lime to increase hardness and the amount of lime added is adjustable. I have a project on my desk right now for upgrades to a big water plant for a major city in Texas that is a lime system replacement mostly just because they decided that want harder water.

 

[LVRebel]

You have utility water or well water? If utility you should be able to find water quality reports that detail what is in your water published by your utility. I’d look at that and figure out what you might want removed and then Talk to the sales guys or just read up on the treatment systems.

Different utilities want different levels of hardness and water quality goals can change over time. A lot of times if a plant provides very soft water (like a membrane treatment system, most common is reverse osmosis) there is a raw water bypass that lets the utility blend hard raw water with the soft permeate the hit their desired water quality. Other common plants add lime to increase hardness and the amount of lime added is adjustable. I have a project on my desk right now for upgrades to a big water plant for a major city in Texas that is a lime system replacement mostly just because they decided that want harder water.

We have pretty decent water quality as a whole in our area, but it's just really hard water. It's not well water, and is from a municipal water utility. I've looked at it in the past, which is why we put in the water softener. My questions, at this point, are mostly in regards to the impact that the soft water could be having on my body (and family) due to what's being added in the softening process. And whether or not we need to get a different source for the majority of our drinking water. Or if we're good as is.

 

[44Bobcats55]

Nothing is 100% safe not even the air you breathe. We live on a lake and have a well. Without a water softener we destroyed a dishwasher, washing machine all fixtures and 3 tankless water heaters in about 1 year. Bought a Kenetico WS and use potassium chrloride instead of salt as the brine gets discharged into our septic tank. No issues after 5 years of use. As for design, I run the well water through a 10 micron and then a 5 micron canister filter then through the softener and into the main that feeds the cold side and the water heaters so both sides get the same treatment.

 

[shiv]

My recent health circumstances has me asking some questions, and looking for clarity on drinking water. In my area of the country, we have really hard water, and a lot of houses have water softeners. I've read different things about water softeners and how they're hooked up, but am not clear on how I would be able to tell the difference as to whether it's running all of the house water through it, or just the hot water loop. Does anyone know how I could verify that?

My next question is in regards to whether drinking water is safe if it's run through a water softener. Some of the sites I've visited say yes, and others say no. Basically, there would be a certain amount of salt in the water, so I guess it depends on the levels as to whether it's deemed healthy or not, by governmental standards. A lot of people have a separate reverse osmosis system at their sink to use for drinking water, but at the same time, my family (and most others I know) have a water access on the refrigerator, and all of the ice being created just runs from the standard cold water loop in the house. So if this both hot and cold water lines are softened, then it's providing the softened salt water through the refrigerator, and thus, to the water spout and ice maker in the fridge. Is this healthy?

What about those whole house filtration systems that don't use salt? Are those effective? I've seen some advertised locally, but they're quite expensive, like 5-6k. If they're super effective, and can remove the particulates in the water, reduce the hardness, and make the drinking water safe, then it may be worth the investment.

I'm not sure what the best way to get some of these answers would be. Perhaps calling one of these companies that sell the whole house system, and having them run some tests on my current water, and then go from there. Otherwise, do you guys have any recommendations on a good whole house system, or best ways to test the quality, hardness, and salt levels in the water?

My current house has a full house water filtration. The drinking water I gets runs through that and then through the fridge water filter and it tastes remarkable. It taste great straight out of the tap too though.

Outside of the water tasting better, the biggest difference I've seen is that have always had bad eczema on my hands and after moving here it has gotten orders of magnitude better.

As far as water hardness/softness I would say that we are pretty neutral just from the local supply

 

[LVRebel]

Nothing is 100% safe not even the air you breathe. We live on a lake and have a well. Without a water softener we destroyed a dishwasher, washing machine all fixtures and 3 tankless water heaters in about 1 year. Bought a Kenetico WS and use potassium chrloride instead of salt as the brine gets discharged into our septic tank. No issues after 5 years of use. As for design, I run the well water through a 10 micron and then a 5 micron canister filter then through the softener and into the main that feeds the cold side and the water heaters so both sides get the same treatment.

That sounds like a good system you have. Do you know if the potassium chloride is interchangeable with the typical salt for water softeners? Or does it require a specific softener to use potassium?

 

[LVRebel]

My current house has a full house water filtration. The drinking water I gets runs through that and then through the fridge water filter and it tastes remarkable. It taste great straight out of the tap too though.

Outside of the water tasting better, the biggest difference I've seen is that have always had bad eczema on my hands and after moving here it has gotten orders of magnitude better.

As far as water hardness/softness I would say that we are pretty neutral just from the local supply

Did you put in the whole house system? What brand/type do you have?

 

[44Bobcats55]

That sounds like a good system you have. Do you know if the potassium chloride is interchangeable with the typical salt for water softeners? Or does it require a specific softener to use potassium?

Pretty sure they are interchangeable.

 

[LVRebel]

Pretty sure they are interchangeable.

Thanks, I'll definitely check into that

 

[Long Cat V2.0]

We have pretty decent water quality as a whole in our area, but it's just really hard water. It's not well water, and is from a municipal water utility. I've looked at it in the past, which is why we put in the water softener. My questions, at this point, are mostly in regards to the impact that the soft water could be having on my body (and family) due to what's being added in the softening process. And whether or not we need to get a different source for the majority of our drinking water. Or if we're good as is.

The utility’s water quality reports will detail everything in the water and the levels of different chemicals in the water. This will give you the details to figure out what you want to remove/reduce (if anything), then You can pick a filter that does what you want.

 

[s-ou-thern]

Get a Waterboss (brand). It is a high quality unit at a decent price. If you are really concerned about sodium, use potassium chloride instead of salt.

 

[LVRebel]

Get a Waterboss (brand). It is a high quality unit at a decent price. If you are really concerned about sodium, use potassium chloride instead of salt.

I'll have to check later but I think that may be what I have. Definitely will check into the KCl though

 

[shiv]

Did you put in the whole house system? What brand/type do you have?

I didn't put it in myself it was installed when I moved in. It is basically this:

 

[LVRebel]

I didn't put it in myself it was installed when I moved in. It is basically this: View attachment 89961

Any idea on the brand/cost?

 

[shiv]

Any idea on the brand/cost?

I'll check when I get home. I don't see how the product itself should cost more than a couple hundred dollars (for something like this at least).

Real cost will be getting a plumber to install it and route your pipes in a way you have easy access to change it every year or so

 

[LVRebel]

I'll check when I get home. I don't see how the product itself should cost more than a couple hundred dollars (for something like this at least).

Real cost will be getting a plumber to install it and route your pipes in a way you have easy access to change it every year or so

Thanks. Yeah, hopefully whatever we end up doing (if anything) doesn't require any major plumbing changes, but just the localized work to attach a different sort of system in place of our current softener.

 

[LVRebel]

Any guys here have experience with getting the water tested? Either have kits you'd recommend, or possibly a company that does it? I'd like to see the water quality coming out of the fridge, since that's my main source of drinking water at the moment

 

[s-ou-thern]

Any guys here have experience with getting the water tested? Either have kits you'd recommend, or possibly a company that does it? I'd like to see the water quality coming out of the fridge, since that's my main source of drinking water at the moment

Don’t have someone that sells the solution test it. You should be able to get a third party test from your local water department. My county publishes all sorts of info online.

 

[44Bobcats55]

I didn't put it in myself it was installed when I moved in. It is basically this: View attachment 89961

That is what we use. Just google big blue filter. We use 10micron and 5 micron in series.

 

[TJHall1]

Whats the health issue that is causing you to have to look so deeply into drinking water? Understand if you don't want to answer this, just asking.

 

[LVRebel]

Whats the health issue that is causing you to have to look so deeply into drinking water? Understand if you don't want to answer this, just asking.

Cancer. I'm not in the categories that would typically be subject to it, and as far as I know, it's not in my family history (though there is some data lacking), so starting to look around at some of the outside factors that may or may not contribute. The Dr. said this type of cancer is getting much more prevalent in the US, which is why they're now recommending colonoscopies to start at age 45.

 

[shiv]

Cancer. I'm not in the categories that would typically be subject to it, and as far as I know, it's not in my family history (though there is some data lacking), so starting to look around at some of the outside factors that may or may not contribute. The Dr. said this type of cancer is getting much more prevalent in the US, which is why they're now recommending colonoscopies to start at age 45.

Sadly seems like cancer is getting much more prevalent everywhere.

When are you expecting an update?

 

[LVRebel]

Sadly seems like cancer is getting much more prevalent everywhere.

When are you expecting an update?

Got an MRI and bloodwork this week, but won't find out any results til middle of next week

 

[TJHall1]

Sadly seems like cancer is getting much more prevalent everywhere.

When are you expecting an update?

Is it? Or is the detection up to date? I have no idea but its like everything else nowadays.
Either way good luck @LVRebel kick that shit in the dick.

 

[shiv]

Is it? Or is the detection up to date? I have no idea but its like everything else nowadays.
Either way good luck @LVRebel kick that shit in the dick.

Could be either, could just be in my personal circle of people I know. Just seems to be more common than ever. No facts to back it up though

 

[TJHall1]

Could be either, could just be in my personal circle of people I know. Just seems to be more common than ever. No facts to back it up though

Thats my point tho. Are more people dying of cancer or now do they just have the means to figure out people have cancer better? Probably what you're saying since we put more chemicals in our bodies now. But then is it cancer or is it the poison we ingest? Gosh dammit, don't mean to derail rebs thread.

 

[shiv]

Thats my point tho. Are more people dying of cancer or now do they just have the means to figure out people have cancer better? Probably what you're saying since we put more chemicals in our bodies now. But then is it cancer or is it the poison we ingest? Gosh dammit, don't mean to derail rebs thread.

Well on one good note, it also seems like more people are recovering.

I’m just talking out of my ass based on what I See around me.

Pulling for @LVRebel

 

[TJHall1]

Well on one good note, it also seems like more people are recovering.

I’m just talking out of my ass based on what I See around me.

Pulling for @LVRebel

Me too, 90% of what i say is out of my shithole. Give or take 1.5-2%. Get on up here to iowa rebel and get you some pure rain and snow water.

 

[LVRebel]

Thats my point tho. Are more people dying of cancer or now do they just have the means to figure out people have cancer better? Probably what you're saying since we put more chemicals in our bodies now. But then is it cancer or is it the poison we ingest? Gosh dammit, don't mean to derail rebs thread.

All good man. Per my Dr., cases in the USA are hitting people at a younger age. He has no idea why that's happening. Could be the food industry, alcohol, medications, water, pesticides, air pollution, Bluetooth, etc. Lots of possible causes but none easy to verify.