Sodium in your Water

If your home or the home you are purchasing tested high for water Sodium, there are certain health risk factors that you’ll definitely want to be aware of.

We’ll explain where sodium in your water comes from, what it means to your health, and what you should do if the levels are elevated.

Where does Sodium come from?

According to sources like The Water Systems Council, Sodium is the 6th most abundantsodium element found on our planet.

Both Sodium and Chlorides are found naturally in water supplies. Sodium in water supplies can result from the natural erosion of ancient underground salt deposits, eventually making their way into underground water.

Sodium water intrusion can also occur, when water from the ocean seeps its way into underground fresh water systems.

In addition, Sodium can also find its way into private water supplies through run-off stemming from activities such as road salting practices.

Sodium and your Health

Elevated levels of Sodium intake can affect a multitude of areas of personal health and longevity.

Too much sodium intake increases risk factors for and has a significant effect on health concerns such as:

  • High blood pressure (Hypertension)
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disease

There are many contributing factors that have a profound impact on Sodium intake that can elevate health risk factors. These can include:

  • Your age
  • Your current healthIndividual food intake and dietary needs
  • Your activity levels and fitness
  • The amount of Sodium you intake
  • Water consumption
  • Predisposition to family health related issues

In a nutshell; the more the above factors play a role in your life, the more likely your health is to be affected by how much sodium you take in.

Each person is different. What might be considered safe for one person could be very detrimental to another.

How much Sodium is good?

In a recent article from The Mayo Clinic, in small amounts, sodium is actually vital to our proper health and day to day function. Without it, many of our systems wouldn’t  function properly.

How does Sodium help us?

  • It helps maintain proper fluid balance in our bodies.
  • It helps to transmit nerve impulses throughout the body.
  • It influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles.


How much Sodium is too much?

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day.

This number drops significantly to 1,500 milligrams a day if you are; 51 years of age or older, if you are of African-American ethnicity, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Today, in America, the average person is taking in somewhere in the neighborhood of about 3,400 mg of sodium each day. This is significantly higher than recommended levels- especially if you are more prone to any of the risk factors mentioned above.

To shine some light on how easily this can happen, consider these facts;

  • Only one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,235 mg of Sodium

  • One tablespoon of soy sauce has approximately 1,000 mg of Sodium

Considering our recommended daily limit of Sodium is 2,300 mg per day, you can see it doesn’t take much to skyrocket our daily Sodium intake. This in turn can significantly affect our overall health.

Acceptable Levels of Sodium in Your Water

The EPA has a set a recommended maximum level of sodium in your water not to exceed 20 mg/L or parts per million. This level was established primarily as a means of protecting those individuals who may be susceptible to elevated sodium levels.

Levels above this recommended limit, once again, compound individual health risk factors, especially for those who are predisposed to certain conditions & and those with less than optimum health (see above).

sodium in your water What to do if you have Sodium in your Water

If the Sodium in your water is above the established recommended limits, or if you have health concerns that put you at higher risk, we recommend treating your water for sodium removal.

The primary and most effective means of removing sodium from water is through a process known as Reverse Osmosis.

Reverse Osmosis Systems have been around for many years and are considered to be an extremely reliable way of removing Sodium in addition to many other contaminants like Arsenic, Uranium and Fluorides, from a home’s water supply.

Both point of entry (whole house) as well as point of use (under sink) systems can be adapted to work in most any home.

Prices for these systems can vary depending factors including:

  • How much sodium is in your water
  • Other contaminants present in the water
  • Personal needs and lifestyle habits
  • Home layout and plumbing configuration

In most cases, a professional grade point of use Reverse Osmosis system can be installed by a water treatment professional, in a typical home, for between $1100-$1500.

Talk to a Professional

If you have any concerns whatsoever about the presence of Sodium in your drinking water, or if you’re in need of water testing to check for Sodium or other health related contaminants (Radon, Arsenic, Uranium, Bacteria etc.), we strongly recommend getting in contact with a professional water treatment company.

A knowledgeable water treatment professional will be able to focus on your family’s individual needs and answer many of your questions before ever setting foot in your home.

Make sure the company, when required by the State, is fully licensed to perform any needed treatment services, as well as  any plumbing required to complete system installations.