How much sodium softening adds to Las Vegas water
Valley water already has sodium in it before any softener touches it. Softening adds more, in proportion to the hardness removed.
Where the 8 mg/L comes from
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, citing the Water Quality Association, says the ion exchange softening process adds about 8 mg of sodium per litre for each grain of hardness removed per gallon. North Dakota State University Extension gives the same figure.
Las Vegas-area examples
| Water | Hardness | Sodium already in it | Added by softening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Valley | 16 gpg | 89 ppm | about 128 mg/L |
| Henderson | 18 gpg | not in our data | about 144 mg/L |
| Laughlin | 17 gpg | 95 ppm | about 136 mg/L |
| Mount Charleston, Echo Wells | 14 gpg | 2.7 ppm | about 112 mg/L |
| Blue Diamond | 24 gpg | 12 ppm | about 192 mg/L |
Parts per million and mg/L are the same measure. Figures assume all hardness is removed.
Three ways round it
- Potassium chloride in the brine tank instead of salt.
- Reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap, which removes most sodium from drinking water.
- An unsoftened cold tap in the kitchen, if your plumbing allows the softener to bypass it.
Talk to your doctor
If you’ve been told to watch your sodium, ask your doctor whether softened water matters for you; the options above take it out of drinking water either way.
Questions we get asked
- Does a water softener make water salty?
- It adds sodium, but a working softener shouldn't make water taste salty. A salty taste usually points to a fault during the rinse.
- Is potassium chloride better for the sodium question?
- It adds potassium instead of sodium. North Dakota State University Extension notes that about 10 percent more is used, and it costs more.
- Do salt-free systems add sodium?
- No, but they don't remove hardness either.