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Ok to use city tap?

Hey Qjohnb1963, that's a good idea for anyone with concerns about using softened water. Dang it! Wish I'd thought about that!!
 
One could always have the water tested, or as mentioned use the bypass valve as I did until I removed the unit. I removed it as it was damaging the plumbing, maybe someone put the wrong stuff in it, who knows.
 
DW2 That's pretty much what I stated earlier. You can use soft water. Most of the reasons against it that I've read are because it's too salty which is incorrect. You are correct in that it strips out the minerals like calcium and magnesium but, as I noted, just add in cal/mag and the soft water will be fine. If your water doesn't get run through a soft water system and is just straight city tap then you can probably use it and get the cal/mag bump that comes along with it. Obviously you want to get a water report to see what your local muni is using and how high a level they are using but if the water is acceptable there should be no reason why you can't use water straight out of the tap.
 
Please be easy on me, Rootsruler, as the 'gap' betwixt my ears is ruled by 'brain fog' LOL!!! I am in my early 70's so what my eyes think they are seeing is not necessarily what my brain receives, I think?!!
 
My outside faucet is connected after my water softener unit so water from my hose is the same as inside water but your system may be different. Home softener units have a bypass valve if you want regular water. Just turn the valve to bypass and your good to go. Just remember to run the water a minute to flush the softened water out.
 
DW2 - LOL! No worries Brother! Didn't mean to come off harsh. You were correct in your post. That's what matters....trust me....I'm not far behind you my guy!! ;)
 
Do the high sulfur levels make your water smell bad? I have a mobile home in the desert out in Cali and if I'm gone for a while the water smells like ass until I run the water through the plumbing system.
 
One of my wells has bacterial sulfur, Dad used a copper pipe doing a repair and the water turned piss yellow. I dont remember it smelling bad but it made those that drank the water smell bad. That well has not been used in like 60 years, but it could produce a lot of water.
 
Yes, the sulfur in my water stinks like hell without the softener. Smells a lot like rotten eggs. Not real noticeable if just filling up a jug or something like that but you don't want to shower in it.
 
When I asked the local Culligan rep he pointed me at a high dollar system that removes the sulfur. This was apart from having a separate softening system. Didn't feel or sound right to me. Felt like he was banking on my limited knowledge of water softening systems.
 
Yeah, sounds like he was looking for a good commission. My water is fine with a standard unit, nuthin fancy.
 
Rootsruler, no offence taken. I went back and looked at the times listed on both of our posts on the subject, and I was probable still typing out my post while yo were posting yours. That's what I like about this forum, everybody is helpful and understanding (especially to the old buzzards! Now, what was the question anyway? LOL !!)
 
A water softener that uses salt will add sodium to the water - not salt. High sodium can be bad but it looks as though concentrations that high would push pH up to 8 / 8.5. That said, I use pre-softener water for plants.
 
I have always used tap water. It comes from the utility chlorinated, and softened. Then it runs through my house softener. So I guess it's ultra soft?

From the tap its Ph is around 8.5.

I don't do anything to it, other than knock it down to a Ph 6.5 with GH Ph down. I do use Calmag because it's so soft.

If it's fit for human consumption, is it really going to hurt my plants?
 
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