I Have A Water Softener; Doesn’t That Treat My Drinking Water?
Why softened water is not the same as purified drinking water — and what you actually need for safe, clean hydration.
This is one of the most common questions we get from Houston homeowners:
“If I already have a water softener, doesn’t that treat my drinking water too?”
The short answer is:
A water softener improves your home’s water—but not your drinking water.
A softener and a drinking-water system (like reverse osmosis) do completely different jobs. Think of them as partners: one protects your plumbing, while the other protects your family’s health.
Here’s exactly what your softener does and what it doesn’t do.
What a Water Softener Does
A water softener removes hardness minerals:
Calcium
Magnesium
Some small amounts of iron (in specific conditions)
This protects your:
Plumbing
Water heater
Appliances
Fixtures
Skin and hair
Laundry
Soft water prevents scale buildup and makes showering feel better.
But softeners do NOT filter contaminants.
They only exchange minerals.
What a Water Softener Does NOT Remove
Even with softened water, your drinking water still contains dissolved contaminants such as:
Chlorine and chloramines (added by Houston for disinfection)
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
Fluoride
Nitrates and nitrites
Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, chromium)
Microplastics
Pesticides and industrial chemicals
Dissolved solids (TDS)
Softening improves your home’s water feel and function, not its purity.
If you’re drinking softened water without additional filtration, it’s still tap just without the hardness minerals.
Why Soft Water Isn’t Drinking Water Treatment
1. Softeners Replace Minerals — They Don’t Filter Anything Out
Hardness minerals are exchanged with sodium or potassium.
Everything else stays in the water.
2. Chemicals and Byproducts Remain Untouched
Houston water is disinfected with chloramines, which leave behind:
Taste and odor issues
Dry skin
Chemical byproducts
Softeners don’t remove these.
3. Some Dissolved Contaminants Increase After Softening
Because the softener releases sodium ions during softening, your drinking water can contain higher sodium levels than raw tap water.
4. Soft Water Can Make Certain Drinks Taste Flat
Coffee, tea, soups, and ice taste best when made with low-mineral, purified water not softened water.
So What Treats Drinking Water? Reverse Osmosis (R.O.)
Reverse osmosis purifies water by removing contaminants at the molecular level.
R.O. removes:
Chlorine and chloramines
PFAS
Fluoride
Heavy metals
Nitrates
Pesticides
Microplastics
Dissolved solids
Sodium added by your softener
It gives you bottled-quality water straight from your faucet.
Softener + R.O. = The Perfect Pair
Together, these two systems give you the best water possible:
Water Softener
Protects your plumbing, appliances, skin, and hair.
Reverse Osmosis
Protects your health, hydration, and cooking water.
One system cannot replace the other.
They’re designed to work together.
Why Houston Homeowners Need Both
Houston water contains:
High hardness
Chloramines
Dissolved solids
Metals from aging pipes
PFAS (detected across Texas)
A softener addresses the hardness.
R.O. addresses the contaminants.
If your goal is soft laundry and better showers, a softener is perfect.
If your goal is safe, clean drinking water, you need R.O.
Most families want both and once they experience the difference, they never go back.
Why Environmental ProTech
For over 30 years, we’ve helped Houston homeowners understand exactly what their water needs. We test your water for hardness, TDS, chlorine, and contaminants — then design the right system for your home.
PS. We have over 30 years experience in bringing clean water to the Houston Homeowners. Our reviews speak for themselves! If you want clean drinking water from your faucet, contact us at 281-495-4420 to schedule your free water test today.
Sources & Further Reading
CDC – Home Water Treatment
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywaterEPA – Drinking Water Contaminants
https://www.epa.govWater Quality Association – Softening vs. Filtration
https://www.wqa.orgTexas Commission on Environmental Quality – Water Quality Standards
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater/quality.html