A movement to ban water softeners continues to grow in certain cities in California.  Rancho Cucamonga, Montclair, Fontana, Upland, Ontario, Chino, and Chino Hills are all looking to ban the installation of new salt-based water softeners, and considering offering cash rebates for the removal of existing systems.

Water in Southern California has been challenging for many people.  The tap water tends to be hard (high in calcium) and causes scale damage and buildup, and does not taste good.  Residential water softeners help reduce the calcium, but create a need to remove the salt with a secondary point of use purified drinking water system.  Water softeners help reduce the use of detergent in the laundry and water heaters can use up to 25% less energy when connected to these systems, which can provide a notable savings.  (However, those benefits are now available using salt-free, environmentally sound technology in whole-house water systems like the HealthyHome Solution by Pure Elements.)

There appears to be a significant cost to the environment using the old-fashioned salt-based water softeners.  All the salt that you pour into a softener is discharged into the sewer system and environment.  In this particular instance, the salt discharges into the Chino groundwater basin.  The basin runs underneath the ground and therefore it cannot be seen.  However, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency says the salt is polluting the groundwater, which is the main source of water for this area.  They are now offering up to $2,000 in cash to residents to stop using salt-based water softeners.

This issue is not just affecting California – It is a domestic and worldwide problem.  Europe and Australia are dealing with this as well, and their solution has been to embrace salt-free technology.  Water conditioning, rather than salt softening, is proving to be the best choice.

Culligan does not believe that the education of the public and the bans will significantly hurt their business.  They believe the benefits of the salt-based softeners will outweigh the environmental concerns, and people will continue to use salt-based water softeners at the expense of the environment.  Are they kidding?  It sounds like the same attitude BP Oil seems to have..?

What would you do?  Would you keep the old water softener and continued to pump salt into the environment?  Why not take the $2,000 and invest in a new salt free water conditioning filter that addressed the same issues as the water softener, with other added benefits such as great tasting drinking water and chemical free bathing?