Setting the water softener so that the water is suitable for drinking/cooking

Hello,

for the decalcification of my water, I use a Grünbeck softliq:SD softening system. According to the calculation formula from Grünbeck to determine the sodium content, I obtain a sodium content of 250.6 mg / l. Thus, my softened water exceeds the limit value of the Drinking Water Ordinance of 200 mg / l.

My household consists of 2 adults and 2 children (4 years and 1 month). For the infant, I use infant-suitable water from the beverage market as drinking water. The rest of the family uses the softened water for cooking and drinking.

I have read that there are also mineral waters which have a sodium content > 250 mg / l. Furthermore, according to the Consumer Advice Center, the minerals magnesium and calcium are removed from the water during softening by the softening system.

For me there are now 3 options:

[*]Option: Use softened water with a sodium content of 250 mg / l for cooking and drinking (after all, there are also mineral waters with higher sodium content)
[*]Option: Reduce the softening degree of the softening system so that the sodium content falls below 200 mg / l (increase the hardness of the softened water from 5 °dH to 12 °dH -> stronger scaling)
[*]Option: Use softened water with a sodium content of 250 mg / l only for cooking and not for drinking (water must be purchased from the beverage market)

I am currently leaning towards option 1, since there are also mineral waters that have sodium contents > 250 mg/l. However, if it is not recommended for health reasons, I could also reduce the softening degree of the softening system.

I am curious about your opinion on the topic and which of the 3 options you would recommend.

Sodium content calculation: Sodium content softened water (currently) = (raw water hardness [°dH] - soft water hardness [°dH]) x 8.2 + sodium content raw water [mg/l] = (34 °dH - 5 °dH) x 8.2 + 12.8 mg/l = 250.6 mg/l

Hello, for the desalination of my water I use a Grünbeck softliq:SD water softening system. According to Grünbeck's calculation formula to determine the sodium content, I get a sodium content of 250.6 mg / l. This means my softened water exceeds the limit value of the Drinking Water Ordinance of 200 mg / l. My household consists of 2 adults and 2 children (4 years and 1 month). For the infant, I use infant-suitable drinking water from the beverage market. The rest of the family uses the softened water for cooking and drinking. I have read that there are also mineral waters that have a sodium content > 250 mg / l. Furthermore, according to the consumer center, minerals magnesium and calcium are removed from the water during softening by the softening system. For me, there are now 3 options:

[*]Option: Use softened water with a sodium content of 250 mg / l for cooking and drinking (after all, there are also mineral waters with higher sodium content) [*]Option: Reduce the water softening degree of the softening system so that the sodium content falls below 200 mg / l (increase the hardness of the softened water from 5 °dH to 12 °dH -> more scaling) [*]Option: Use softened water with a sodium content of 250 mg / l only for cooking and not for drinking (water must be purchased from the beverage market)

I am currently leaning towards option 1, since after all, there are mineral waters with sodium contents > 250 mg/l. However, if it is not recommended health-wise, I could also reduce the softening degree of the softening system. I am curious about your opinion on this topic or which of the 3 options you recommend. Sodium content calculation: Sodium content softened water (current) = (raw water hardness [°dH] - soft water hardness [°dH]) x 8.2 + sodium content raw water [mg/l] = (34 °dH - 5 °dH) x 8.2 + 12.8 mg/l = 250.6 mg/l

Where in Germany do you have 34 dH, please???

Set the water to a reasonable hardness. That is around +/- 10-12. This way you won't have major problems with limescale. If you descale as intensely as you do, over time you will get salt encrustations rather than limescale. Oh yes, - that is not unusual. Drive to Würzburg. There it goes up to 45. No joke. Overall, Germany has rather hard water.

Set the water to a reasonable hardness. That is at +/- 10-12. With that, you won't have major problems with lime scale. If you descale as strongly as you do, you may end up with salt encrustations rather than lime scale in the long run.

Thank you very much in advance for your answers. I think I will run a water pipe to the kitchen faucet before the water softening system. Is it really realistic that with such a high level of descaling as in my case (reducing hardness from 34 °dH to 5 °dH) salt encrustations occur? In general, my main concern with the softened water is to protect the bathroom/toilet.

Is it really realistic that salt crusts occur with such a high descaling as in my case (hardness reduction from 34 °dH to 5 °dH)?

Probability is 100% that salt deposits will occur. You have an enormously high salt consumption, so that standing water causes salt spots (and with insufficient care crusts like with limescale). Imagine it like sea salt production. You also protect your bathroom with 10-12 degrees hardness, which benefits both water quality and your wallet.

Salt deposits also cause metal parts to corrode faster. So the shot can backfire with the fittings.