Many people understand their drinking water includes some minerals and other trace elements. In fact, these often give both tap and bottled water their taste. One of those minerals is sodium, which is a mineral that a lot of people try to avoid. But can the sodium in your Ohio drinking water become a health concern? Here’s what you need to know.

The human body requires sodium for several functions. It’s an electrolyte that helps to regulate blood pressure and volume. It’s vital to the function of the nerves and muscles.

The main issue with sodium is that different people need different amounts of it. Take too little sodium, and hypernatremia can develop. Too much sodium can cause hypertension. And both of these conditions can come with a number of serious health issues. That’s why it’s important to watch your intake of sodium.

It’s natural for sodium to show up in groundwater. Mostly, the sodium found in the groundwater isn’t a cause for concern. For example, Harrison County groundwater contains roughly 40 to 80 milligrams of sodium per liter of groundwater. So even if you’re drinking copious amounts of water, you’re not really taking in much sodium from it.

According to the American Heart Association, adults should consume 2,300 milligrams or less of sodium per day. Adults who have high blood pressure or a heart condition should take in no more than 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams per day.

Despite these recommendations, Americans take in around 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day. The FDA says that this number is more like 4,000 to 6,000 milligrams. Your water, at even the highest sodium levels, isn’t where any appreciable portion of your daily sodium intake comes from.

Nutrient guidelines state that 140 milligrams or less of sodium is “low sodium.” So your drinking water, and even bottled water that contains sodium, is still a low sodium option.

The negligible amount of sodium in ground and bottled water isn’t typically a cause for concern. However, here are three examples of people who do need to consider the sodium in their water:

Some people have diets or medical conditions that require them to monitor their sodium intake very closely. Even a small change in their sodium intake can create further complications.

Sodium isn’t the only mineral or element found in drinking water. Some people may want to limit as many of these things as they can for a variety of reasons.

For example, water also contains potassium and magnesium. Just like sodium, these things are helpful. But for some, it’s important to watch how much or how little of these things they take in.

Business owners and those who cater to groups of people must also consider the amount of sodium and other elements in the water. When you deal with a large number of people, you don’t know what individual dietary restrictions each one has. In such cases, it’s a good idea to invest in water that arrives without sodium in it.