Iron out in water softener, toxic?

It is more common than you think, particularly in a house where the softener was retro fitted and running another pipe would be tough. Typically folks will have an "under sink" R/O here to deal with the salt and any other taste issues. That ends up being "bottled water" quality water.

When my house was on a well, the kitchen tap had softened water. We used it for stuff that wouldn't present a taste problem, like cooking spaghetti. For drinking water, we used bottled.

Cindy Hamilton

I've actually seen many houses where the house was "retrofitted" for a softener where it was just installed in the incoming line to the house with no mofifications made. Others soften onlythe hot water. The right way is to split off and re-plumb so sof water goes where soft water is required and hard water goes to the rest. When an iron filter is required and the water is "stinky" it IS a fifferent situation - but you wouldn't willingly drink the "raw" stuff

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That was our situation. Sulfur-reducing bacteria in the well, plus high iron and other TDS. When the tap water started stinking, we knew it was time to throw a bottle of bleach down the well head and bypass the septic system. Every couple of months, IIRC.

One winter of that and we jumped on the chance to connect to municipal water, which became available right across the street when a subdivision replaced a cornfield.

Cindy Hamilton

If your water tastes salty you have the grains per gallon set to high.

Update: IU Medical Methodist (Indianapolis), which has the top cardiology team in the state, indicates in their dietary documentation (I have a copy) that softened water should not be used as drinking water.