Voters in Santa Clarita, California approved on November 4 a local referendum that will require the removal of all salt-regenerated home water softeners that discharge into the sewer system of the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District.
Taking effect January 1, it likely will be the first law in the nation mandating home softener removals to reduce chloride discharges into wastewater streams of a large community. The city of anta Clarita has a population of about 177,000.
The "first law in the nation" but certainly not the last. With this law passing in one city in California, there are better odds that a similar bill that was in front of Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger this year but was vetoed will make it back through both houses in California and end up being signed into law.
What this means to the water softener manufacturers is uncertain but what it means for homeowners in Santa Clarita is finding a viable alternative that will manage their hard water problems. And with today's focus on "green" technology it has homeowners scurrying looking to find an eco-friendly solution for their hard water problem that is also eco-friendly and wallet friendly.
As in any other industry, technolgy that has served us well is sometimes made obselete via legislation and opens doors for other technologies, perhaps better technologies that have layed dormant because the old solution was the easy solution.
There is no doubt that other communities, other states will begin to introduce similar laws banning softeners which makes it incumbent on the homeowner to begin to research what are the alternatives to dealing with their hard water problems now vs waiting until the law is passed.
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