Soft water

Soft water contains hardly any minerals or none at all. Calcium and magnesium react with dissolved CO2 to form carbonates that create lime, making water hard. Rainwater is typically soft water. Distilled water, produced through evaporation, is very soft with a hardness of zero and neutral pH of 7. By German standards, water hardness of 0-7 degdH qualifies as hardness grade 1 and is considered soft water.

Soft water has lower surface tension than hard water, allowing soap and detergent to foam better and enabling water to better penetrate materials. Tea and coffee taste more intense in soft water since it absorbs flavors more effectively. However, water that is too soft can cause corrosion or pitting in pipes, as distilled water seeks minerals from metallic pipes like copper, potentially causing damage.