What type of water is typically more corrosive?

Soft water is typically more corrosive due to its lower mineral content, particularly calcium and magnesium, which are present in hard water. The process of softening water often involves the removal of these minerals, making the water more aggressive in seeking to replace them. This aggressive behavior occurs because the water has a higher capacity to absorb minerals from the pipes or fixtures it comes into contact with, effectively dissolving metals and other materials more readily than harder water.

In contrast, hard water, mineral water, and chlorinated water do not exhibit the same level of corrosiveness because the presence of minerals in hard water helps to form a protective scale on pipes, while mineral water often contains substances that stabilize it, and chlorinated water generally maintains a balance that minimizes corrosion. Thus, soft water's chemical characteristics contribute to its corrosive nature, making it more likely to cause damage to plumbing systems over time.