Sodium in Water and AHA Guidelines

MAY 25

Did you know that sodium is naturally present in water sources across the US, and around the world? You can see in the graphic below how a few different cities rate in sodium content. The AHA recommends that no more than 10% of dietary sodium intake should come from drinking water. Their guidelines recommend a maximum of 1500 mg per day for most people, and a maximum of 500 mg per day for those on severely sodium-restricted diets. According to these guidelines, many of us surpass the 10% limit just from drinking city water!

An interesting thing happens, too, when we drink water softened with a traditional salt-type softener. Because salt-type water softeners work by replacing hardness mineral ions with sodium ions through a process called “ion exchange,” the hardness of your water will affect the level of sodium in water. Using the standard calculation of

Sodium added (mg) = liters of water you drink x hardness removed (gpg) x 8 mg/l/gpg**,

you can see that if you live in Phoenix, AZ which has an average water hardness of 18 gpg, you’re adding 144 mg/l of sodium to your diet through softened water alone. Now, add back in the sodium that’s naturally present in your water, and multiply by the amount of water you drink in a day, and it becomes clear how much sodium you’re really drinking. In Phoenix, drinking 2 liters of softened water per day means that you have consumed 520 mg of sodium through your drinking water alone.

Sodium added (mg) = 2 liters of drinking water (18 gpg of hardness x 8 mg/l/gpg + 116 mg/l naturally present sodium)

Sodium added = 520 mg

If you’re on a sodium-restricted diet and drinking salt-softened water in Phoenix, you have not only far surpassed the recommendation of no more than 10% of sodium from water, but you’ve consumed more than your 500 mg maximum for the day! In the map below, you can see the calculated sodium levels for each city when a traditional softener is used to treat the water. If you live in one of these cities, you can multiply this number by the amount of water you drink in a day to see how this might affect your diet. If you’d like help determining how much sodium is in your city’s water, give us a call at 1(877)708.3338. If possible, try to have your city’s water quality report handy.

Many states mandate that salt-type water softeners be installed to bypass the kitchen sink in order to prevent residents from drinking salt-softened water. If this isn’t the case in your home, consider installing a RevitaLife Drinking Water System to remove the added sodium from your drinking water, or finding another source for drinking water. Or, if you’re considering going salt-free, give us a call at 1(877) 708-3338. Our residential specialists will help talk through your water problems, and determine if the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner will be a great fit for you!

**Source: Michael H. Bradshaw and G. Morgan Powell, Sodium in Drinking Water, Kansas State University, October 2002.

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Comments

Sodium in Water and AHA Guidelines

Richard Bultemeyer May 26, 2011 at 3:57 pm · Reply

I’ve been interested in Easy Water for some time, but just have not gotten around to it.

We’ll be leaving Ellenton, FL, next Tuesday for about four months. We plan to return around the 8th of October. Do you have materials that we could look at to get some of the important information in regard to your Easy Water treatment plan…including prices?

With thanks,
Richard Bultemeyer

EasyWater May 26, 2011 at 4:52 pm · Reply

Hi Richard, we’re happy to hear from you! We have removed your summer address for your privacy, but we couldn’t help but notice that you’ll be in Indiana. Did you know that we’re in Greenfield, about 1 mile north of I-70? If you get the chance, we’d love for you to stop in and see our facilities! We will make sure to get some literature sent out to you as well.

Sharon Gariano May 27, 2011 at 9:32 am · Reply

While I’m sure there is salt in our water here in sunny FL, our biggest problem is lime Can you explain how your product can remove that and other harmful things from our water? I didn’t see that on the site.

EasyWater May 27, 2011 at 10:04 am · Reply

Hi Sharon, we’re happy to clear that up for you! First, the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner does not remove sodium or salt from water. Rather, the our No-Salt Conditioner conditions the water so that limescale is eliminated, without having to add even more sodium to your water like a traditional softener would. Regarding the high lime in your Florida water, that’s exactly what the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner was designed to take care of! It doesn’t remove the minerals that make up lime, but rather physically changes them to keep them from sticking to surfaces and forming scale build-up. If you’d like more detail on this process, give us a call at 1(877) 708-3338 or click the chat link above.

Lisa February 19, 2012 at 4:15 pm · Reply

The products listed: no salt conditioner, toxin shield, iron shield, toxin shield cartridge, acid shield… do I need to install all of these products?? I am currently using a salt water softener and have a reverse osmosis system for drinking, and would like to replace everything. We have a village well system. I do not like the added salt to my water since it isn’t good for my health. But would I need to install all of these products, since they all do different things, but I like them all. Do you sell replacement parts for these products? For example, the bacteria shield, do yuo sell extra ultra-violet lights? I like all your products, but could I afford them??

admin February 20, 2012 at 12:01 pm · Reply

Hi Lisa, great question! You will not have to install our full range of products. Some in our line are made specifically for city water, and others are specifically for well water. The best thing to do is to make an appointment with one of our authorized partner dealers, who will test your water and make the best recommendation. The replacement parts for all of our products will also be available through our dealer. Just give us a call at 1(877) 708-3338 and we’ll put you in touch with a dealer in your area!