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Soft Water in Bird Baths? |
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Can I use soft water in my bird baths? In the wild, birds drink from many sources of water, all being different in their mineral content. We are assuming that "soft water" means water treated in a home water softener, where water passes through a resin and minerals are removed. When sodium bicarabonate is used in the resin, it leaves sodium in the water. The amount of sodium that ends up in the softened water depends on how hard the water was to begin with. Only in areas of extremely hard water would find an appreciable amount of sodium or salt in the softened water. It is unlikely to be enough to harm birds, so it is okay to use softened water in a birdbath. If you are filling your birdbath from an outside spigot, the water is most likely not softened. Hard water is also safe for birds.
However, don't use softened water to water your houseplants. Salts will build up in the soil. Birders World (June 2006) HOMEPAGE
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