The sodium in softened water IS considerable if the raw water is really hard. You get 37.5 mg sodium/qt for every 5 gr hardness water. That means my softened water is 960 mg sodium/gal and I drink up to 3 gal/day in the summer but I don't drink a drop of the softened water. Hot water can't hold the amount of minerals as cold water so anywhere water is heated the minerals precipitate out. Hence, the white scale in the bottom of WHs, scaled condenser tubes on chillers, etc. Filters are good. Reduce the particulate/reduce the conductivity/reduce electrolysis. I've cured nasty electrolysis problems with filters. I use a 1 mic whole house filter. 5 mic is only entry level. Activated carbon is great for smell and taste but you can eventually have bug problems cuz it removes chlorine. A softener exchanges (relatively) favorable ions for unfavorable ions. Sodium is more soluble than calcium. Potassium chloride is great to regen a softener! The Denver zoo uses it by the truck loads. K is good for everything. Too bad KCL got so expensive. Craig
