Sodium

GENERAL INFORMATION
Sodium is widely distributed in soils, plants, water and foods. It is essential to human life. Many people use the word ÒsaltÓ when they intend to refer to sodium or to sodium chloride. When a salt such as sodium chloride dissolves in water it breaks up into positively- and negatively-charged ions. Sodium chloride breaks up into sodium and chloride ions in water. Every water supply contains some sodium and chloride. A major source of sodium in the natural waters is due to the weathering of rocks and soils.

The concentrations of sodium in groundwater are dependent on the local geological conditions and wastewater contamination. Mineral deposits, sewage effluents, road salt storage and salt used in road de-icing can all contribute significant quantities of sodium to water. Domestic water softeners contribute to sodium in the drinking water by replacing the calcium and magnesium that make the water hard. These levels, though, are insignificant compared to the sodium ingested in the normal human diet.

HEALTH EFFECTS
The vast majority of sodium ingestion is from food rather than drinking water. Sodium levels in drinking water from most water systems are unlikely to be a significant contribution to adverse health effects. A diet high in sodium intake has been identified as a risk factor for high blood pressure.

Input units: 
mg/L
ppm
Contaminant group: 
Action is optional 1: 

ACTION IS OPTIONAL
There are no federally-enforced health-based standards. If you have concerns about the levels detected, please consult your physician.  Action is RECOMMENDED if total dissolved solids is also high.

Typical range in Ohio: 
15 - 90
Major sources in drinking water: 
Erosion of earth materials, contribution from brines, and/or leaching from salt piles, road salt, softener discharge, etc.
Treatment options: 

TREATMENT OPTIONS
Water softeners are the most common source of sodium in home drinking water supplies. If you are concerned about your water softener contributing to the sodium in your drinking water, talk with your doctor. One way to reduce the sodium contributed by your water softener is to consider dedicating one or more cold water lines, for drinking purposes, by bypassing the water softener.

If a water softener is not installed or the cold water is already by-passing the water softener, you can consider:

  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • De-ionization