25+ Communities In California Ban Water Softeners Using Salt.
More than 25 communities in California have already banned or restricted the use of such water softeners on the grounds that they are hazardous to the environment.
The California communities include cities in such counties as Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Korn, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, and Tularc.
Typical of the California laws is an ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego which says, ‘The discharge of water softeners brine wastes into District sewers shall be prohibited in accordance with the provisions of this section. This section is intended to apply to all districts where district’s final treated wastewater effluent is discharged to inland disposal or water reclamation uses.
In a letter to one concerned citizen, the general manager of a water district in one of the California counties wrote:
"The problem with salt softeners is that exchange sodium for hardness materials (such as calcium and magnesium) at a rate of 2:1."
"The sodium enters the wastewater system and is discharged to the Santa Ana River following treatment."
"Since the Santa Ana River recharges groundwater for Orange County, it is imperative that dissolved salts are kept to a minimum to avoid eventual degradation of drinking water supplies."
"Widespread use of salt softeners could have a substantial adverse impact in dissolved salts..."
"Unfortunately, many homeowners like yourself have invested several hundred dollars in a salt softener only to find it cannot be used."
The executive director of the Santa Ana Region of the California Regional Water Quality Control wrote to another concerned environmentalist:
"Experiencing a serious adverse salt balance problem due to extensive water re-use within the basin and the importation of water supplies from outside the basin."
"As such, we strongly discourage the use of water softeners which would result in a salt discharge."
"In fact, various water supply agencies within the region are currently joining together in a joint effort...to fund a feasibility study for de-salting project in the upper basin."
"We believe that it would most certainly be a step in the wrong direction to simultaneously encourage the use of water softeners which might be regenerated on site."
The Filtercon Water Conditioner and Filtration System does not utilize potentially harmful chemicals so there are no environmental hazards in using the Filtercon Water Conditioner and Filtration System. There is also no sodium residue, thus cutting down septic tank pump-outs.
The California communities include cities in such counties as Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Korn, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, and Tularc.
Typical of the California laws is an ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego which says, ‘The discharge of water softeners brine wastes into District sewers shall be prohibited in accordance with the provisions of this section. This section is intended to apply to all districts where district’s final treated wastewater effluent is discharged to inland disposal or water reclamation uses.
In a letter to one concerned citizen, the general manager of a water district in one of the California counties wrote:
"The problem with salt softeners is that exchange sodium for hardness materials (such as calcium and magnesium) at a rate of 2:1."
"The sodium enters the wastewater system and is discharged to the Santa Ana River following treatment."
"Since the Santa Ana River recharges groundwater for Orange County, it is imperative that dissolved salts are kept to a minimum to avoid eventual degradation of drinking water supplies."
"Widespread use of salt softeners could have a substantial adverse impact in dissolved salts..."
"Unfortunately, many homeowners like yourself have invested several hundred dollars in a salt softener only to find it cannot be used."
The executive director of the Santa Ana Region of the California Regional Water Quality Control wrote to another concerned environmentalist:
"Experiencing a serious adverse salt balance problem due to extensive water re-use within the basin and the importation of water supplies from outside the basin."
"As such, we strongly discourage the use of water softeners which would result in a salt discharge."
"In fact, various water supply agencies within the region are currently joining together in a joint effort...to fund a feasibility study for de-salting project in the upper basin."
"We believe that it would most certainly be a step in the wrong direction to simultaneously encourage the use of water softeners which might be regenerated on site."
The Filtercon Water Conditioner and Filtration System does not utilize potentially harmful chemicals so there are no environmental hazards in using the Filtercon Water Conditioner and Filtration System. There is also no sodium residue, thus cutting down septic tank pump-outs.
IS A WATER SOFTENER BAN COMING TO YOU AREA?
Conventional water softeners may become extinct in the near future – not just because they could be replaced by salt free systems, but because they might be outlawed. If you think the idea of law enforcement agents coming to your home to search for illegal water treatment systems sounds silly, think again. It’s already happening in one part of California, and it’s quite possible a water softener ban will someday come to your area as well.
Why Ban Water Softeners? Conventional softeners remove hard water minerals from water and replace it with sodium (or less commonly, potassium). When the systems regenerate, they flush salty waste water into the sewer system. In many cases, this water is simply disposed of. However, with the developing water crisis in the Southwest, many areas need to recycle the water for agricultural and other uses. The extra salinity – much of it added by water softeners – causes problems with crops. That means it either has to be treated (at taxpayer expense), or traditional salt based water softeners have to go.
The latter option was chosen by residents of the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District in California. They voted to ban conventional water softeners rather than accept a rate hike. This ban isn't just working on the honor system, either. Owners of salt water softeners have been offered fair value to remove their system. However, the sanitation district has mailed out letters to people suspected of still having water softeners in their home, and will follow up with inspections if they don’t get a response.
The Debate Water softener manufacturers and industry groups have fired back at attempts to ban water softeners, arguing that they represent “governmental overreach.” They also argue that, overall, water softeners are actually good for the environment. By preventing scale, softeners keep water heaters and other appliances running more efficiently, reducing energy use.
On the other hand, manufacturers of salt-less water softeners would like to remind everyone that there is an alternative. Because they don’t discharge harmful waste-water, salt-less systems are unaffected by these bans. The only trouble is that many people don’t know about salt free systems, or trust the technology they use.
Another option is contained systems, which don’t flush waste-water into the sewer system but save it for professional disposal. This isn't a universal solution, though. You can’t find a waste-water removal service just anywhere, and many people are bound to balk at the extra cost and inconvenience.
Will a Ban Come to Your Area?If you live in the Southwest, the chances of a water softener ban in your area are very real. It seems likely that communities are going to get more and more strict about water use in the near future – they have to in order to deal with the issues they face. Outlawing water softeners may seem draconian, but it’s an obvious way to chip away at a vexing problem.
Unfortunately, you can’t just pass a law banning hard water problems. As long as those still exist, homeowners will need solutions that work as well as conventional water softeners. This will no doubt drive demand for salt free water softeners. Since nobody likes lugging around large bags of water softener salt anyway, it’s a pretty safe bet that one day salt-less systems will be the norm.
Why Ban Water Softeners? Conventional softeners remove hard water minerals from water and replace it with sodium (or less commonly, potassium). When the systems regenerate, they flush salty waste water into the sewer system. In many cases, this water is simply disposed of. However, with the developing water crisis in the Southwest, many areas need to recycle the water for agricultural and other uses. The extra salinity – much of it added by water softeners – causes problems with crops. That means it either has to be treated (at taxpayer expense), or traditional salt based water softeners have to go.
The latter option was chosen by residents of the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District in California. They voted to ban conventional water softeners rather than accept a rate hike. This ban isn't just working on the honor system, either. Owners of salt water softeners have been offered fair value to remove their system. However, the sanitation district has mailed out letters to people suspected of still having water softeners in their home, and will follow up with inspections if they don’t get a response.
The Debate Water softener manufacturers and industry groups have fired back at attempts to ban water softeners, arguing that they represent “governmental overreach.” They also argue that, overall, water softeners are actually good for the environment. By preventing scale, softeners keep water heaters and other appliances running more efficiently, reducing energy use.
On the other hand, manufacturers of salt-less water softeners would like to remind everyone that there is an alternative. Because they don’t discharge harmful waste-water, salt-less systems are unaffected by these bans. The only trouble is that many people don’t know about salt free systems, or trust the technology they use.
Another option is contained systems, which don’t flush waste-water into the sewer system but save it for professional disposal. This isn't a universal solution, though. You can’t find a waste-water removal service just anywhere, and many people are bound to balk at the extra cost and inconvenience.
Will a Ban Come to Your Area?If you live in the Southwest, the chances of a water softener ban in your area are very real. It seems likely that communities are going to get more and more strict about water use in the near future – they have to in order to deal with the issues they face. Outlawing water softeners may seem draconian, but it’s an obvious way to chip away at a vexing problem.
Unfortunately, you can’t just pass a law banning hard water problems. As long as those still exist, homeowners will need solutions that work as well as conventional water softeners. This will no doubt drive demand for salt free water softeners. Since nobody likes lugging around large bags of water softener salt anyway, it’s a pretty safe bet that one day salt-less systems will be the norm.
New rules would restrict new salt-based water softeners in Discovery Bay.
DISCOVERY BAY -- This far east Contra Costa town has had some hard times dealing with its hard water.
But that soon may change.
Discovery Bay's Community Services District board approved new rules last week banning the installation of water softeners that use sodium, potassium, or chloride and discharge the salt solution into sewer lines.
The new ordinance, which will take effect in a month, says consumers can still use membrane-based or carbon-based water softeners. Also, those with existing salt-based units can keep them until it's time to install a new one.
Discovery Bay has faced fines from the state over the years for the high salinity levels its wastewater contains when it is discharged into Old River.
Board member Kevin Graves, who sits on the district's water and wastewater committee, says the town is just above the state levels and works closely with officials.
"They understand that it's a hard limit to reach, but with new homes and development, they won't be as flexible," Graves said.
In 2011, Discovery Bay accrued $3,000 in fines by the state's Regional Water Quality Control Board for having too much salinity in its discharged water, but no fines in 2012, general manager Rick Howard said. The district has not heard about fines for 2013, though it went over close to the same amount as 2011, Howard said.
The hope, officials say, is that getting rid of the softeners will improve the environment and save ratepayers money.
"This is going to help us protect the Delta ecology and be responsible for those waters in our own backyard," Graves said.
Unlike other Bay Area towns and agencies that draw water from aboveground sources such as the Delta or the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, Discovery Bay's water comes solely from ground wells.
Gregory Harris, an engineer with Herwit Engineers, who works for the district, explains that water isn't as pure and already starts with some minerals in it that make it feel hard. When combined with the salt from people and water softeners, the brine level in the collected wastewater exceeds state levels.
Last year, Discovery Bay engineers conducted a study to determine possible origins of the salty waste-water. After testing the softeners of 60 voluntary residents for a few weeks, both with and without water softeners in use, Harris said it was determined that the amount of waste-water brine lessened by about 28 percent without the softeners.
"The research showed there was a direct relationship with the softeners and the salinity," Graves said.
Though not an attention-grabbing topic in the Bay Area, the water softener issue has been examined for the past few years at the state level.
Santa Clarita County became the first state municipality to ban water softeners in 2008. In 2009, California authorized local agencies be allowed to impose bans on water softeners if it is found to protect water quality.
"It's been a contentious issue in the Central Valley for years," Harris said.
After Discovery Bay's ordinance is implemented, the district plans to launch an information campaign telling residents and future home contractors about the rules.
But that soon may change.
Discovery Bay's Community Services District board approved new rules last week banning the installation of water softeners that use sodium, potassium, or chloride and discharge the salt solution into sewer lines.
The new ordinance, which will take effect in a month, says consumers can still use membrane-based or carbon-based water softeners. Also, those with existing salt-based units can keep them until it's time to install a new one.
Discovery Bay has faced fines from the state over the years for the high salinity levels its wastewater contains when it is discharged into Old River.
Board member Kevin Graves, who sits on the district's water and wastewater committee, says the town is just above the state levels and works closely with officials.
"They understand that it's a hard limit to reach, but with new homes and development, they won't be as flexible," Graves said.
In 2011, Discovery Bay accrued $3,000 in fines by the state's Regional Water Quality Control Board for having too much salinity in its discharged water, but no fines in 2012, general manager Rick Howard said. The district has not heard about fines for 2013, though it went over close to the same amount as 2011, Howard said.
The hope, officials say, is that getting rid of the softeners will improve the environment and save ratepayers money.
"This is going to help us protect the Delta ecology and be responsible for those waters in our own backyard," Graves said.
Unlike other Bay Area towns and agencies that draw water from aboveground sources such as the Delta or the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, Discovery Bay's water comes solely from ground wells.
Gregory Harris, an engineer with Herwit Engineers, who works for the district, explains that water isn't as pure and already starts with some minerals in it that make it feel hard. When combined with the salt from people and water softeners, the brine level in the collected wastewater exceeds state levels.
Last year, Discovery Bay engineers conducted a study to determine possible origins of the salty waste-water. After testing the softeners of 60 voluntary residents for a few weeks, both with and without water softeners in use, Harris said it was determined that the amount of waste-water brine lessened by about 28 percent without the softeners.
"The research showed there was a direct relationship with the softeners and the salinity," Graves said.
Though not an attention-grabbing topic in the Bay Area, the water softener issue has been examined for the past few years at the state level.
Santa Clarita County became the first state municipality to ban water softeners in 2008. In 2009, California authorized local agencies be allowed to impose bans on water softeners if it is found to protect water quality.
"It's been a contentious issue in the Central Valley for years," Harris said.
After Discovery Bay's ordinance is implemented, the district plans to launch an information campaign telling residents and future home contractors about the rules.
