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See also: Water softening. Soft water is surface water that contains low concentrations of ions and in particular is low in ions of calcium and magnesium. Soft water naturally occurs where rainfall and the drainage basin of rivers are formed of hard, impervious and calcium poor rocks.ecause soft water has few calcium ions, there is no inhibition of the action of soaps and no soap scum is formed in normal washing. Similarly, soft water produces no calcium deposits in water heating systems. Water that is not soft is referred to as hard water.
Water softening is the removal of calcium, magnesium and certain ions in hard water. The resulting soft water is more compatible with soap and extends the lifetime of plumbing and appliances. Hard water causes a higher risk of lime scale deposits in household water systems, which can foul plumbing and promote galvanic corrosion.