Should a water softener be installed to leave a drinking tap which supplies unsoftened water?
Yes. It is particularly important that all water mixed with powdered milk for babies’ feed is drawn from an unsoftened mains tap. This is because powdered milk already contains the right amount of sodium, and very young babies have a limited tolerence for sodium. Anyone on a sodium-restricted diet should follow their doctor’s instructions. The British Water Code of Practice which covers all new water softener installations, requires that where reasonably practicable, a pipe leading to a mains tap for unsoftened or mains drinking water should be connected directly to the water supply pipe prior to the water softener inlet.
