Watering Plants with Water from a Water Softener? No No No

Q. We have a vegetable garden and an ornamental garden.  We didn’t think about it, but we just installed a water softener.  This softened water also comes out of the garden hoses.  Is this water bad for our plants?

A. Yes it will be a problem if you water with sodium-based salts from the water softener in it. Sodium is toxic to plants. This inexpensive salt used in water softeners also contains chlorine which is also toxic to plants. A double whammy.

            You have three options. The first is to run a new water line and hose bib from a point upstream of the water softener and use this water for irrigating. Secondly, install a hose bib from the irrigation line used for the garden since the water supply for outside irrigation is connected before the water softener.

            The third option is to use potassium-based water softening salts rather than sodium-based salts. These water softener salts are more expensive but less damaging and will still soften the water. You’ll find this type of salt for water softeners anywhere that sells water softener salt.