Do water softeners pollute our environment?

Yes, water softeners pollute if they use salt to soften the water. All that salt eventually ends up in the water supply. In some communities, it is put back into the aquifer that helps fresh water is drawn from. Too much salt, and you end up with a salt desert. An alternative is a portable-exchange water softener but, naturally, it costs more.

Check to see if you really need a water softener first. Then buy the most energy efficient one for your needs. Best are the ones that only recharge when the level of softened water gets low instead of the kind that automatically cycle on a schedule.