Unlike the USA or the rest of Europe, in the UK there is a recommendation
that means where practical a tap must be left un-softened in the house. In
practice this means a third mini tap at the sink. The two main pillar taps are
softened and the mini tap provides un-softened water.
Everyone can drink
softened water unless they are on a medically supervised sodium restricted diet
or a baby less than six months old on bottle feed .
Softened water makes a stronger flavoured tea, you don't get a 'skin' on it and
you don't get scale in the kettle. The fact is unlike naturally occurring soft
water, softened water has no link to increased occurrence of cardiovascular
disease because it has exactly the same amount of dissolved solids in it as hard
water. All we have done is exchanged calcium and magnesium ions that cause scale
and soap scum for sodium ions that do not.
In fact, Gall stone treatments
include the advice to drink plenty of softened water.