No, tap water isn't universally soft. Whether tap water is soft or hard depends on its mineral content, specifically the levels of calcium and magnesium. The level of contamination in your area also plays a role. In many rural areas, water contamination is lower, potentially resulting in softer water.
Understanding Water Hardness
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Hard water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cause scale buildup in appliances and leave spots on dishes. While drinking hard water with abundant essential minerals is considered good for your health by the World Health Organization, [citation needed: The 71 Percent reference supports this but lacks a direct WHO link. This should be verified].
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Soft water has lower levels of calcium and magnesium. This makes it easier to create lather and suds. However, softened water often has a higher sodium content which is not necessarily beneficial for health and can be harmful to plants. [Citation needed: Mayo Clinic Connect]
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Tap water's hardness varies greatly by location. Some areas naturally have soft water, while others have hard water. Water softening systems are commonly used in areas with hard water to reduce mineral content. [Citation needed: Minnesota Department of Health frequently asked questions on water softening].
Water Softeners and Tap Water
Water softeners are frequently installed in homes and businesses to reduce the hardness of tap water. Often, a separate water line is used to supply unsoftened water to kitchen faucets. This is preferred by some who enjoy the taste of unsoftened water. [Citation needed: StructureTech article]. It's also common to not connect softeners to outdoor taps to avoid salt contamination of grass and gardens. [Citation needed: Reddit thread]. Additionally, water softened with salt increases sodium content and may not be best for drinking. Distilled and reverse osmosis water are considered the softest forms of water. [Citation needed: Quora response].
Conclusion
The softness of tap water is location-dependent. It's not inherently soft or hard.
