The Traditional home Water Softener System may soon be illegal in many areas in California!
The California Assembly has passed bill AB 1366, which will allow government agencies more power to ban new sales of the traditional home water softener system and force the removal of existing salt-based water softening systems.
As a strong proponent and developer of environmentally sound salt-free technologies for addressing hard water, we see this as a major sign of the times. Whole-house water filter and conditioning systems provide a superior alternative that meets the needs for a Green product.
So why do the big water softener manufacturers like Culligan call this “a Big Government grab at private property.”? Do they think that the government wants to own a bunch of used water softening systems? I believe they are in denial regarding the serious issues chlorides create at municipalities and treatment plants.
Aside from making it difficult to meeting federal water quality standards, these chlorides dramatically increase the cost of treatment (including fines for non-compliance). These costs are passed on to us, the individual homeowner. As stated by the home water softener industry, removing residential softeners would leave 25% of homeowners with hard water. If ¼ of homeowners are dumping chlorides into the sewer systems, this has to be a substantial source and volume of chlorides delivered directly to the water treatment plants.
We have the answers in proven alternatives that eliminate the extreme costs for the removal of chlorides, and benefit the environment. Hey, Culligan Man, when are you going to wake up and stop trying to save the dinosaur salt-based softeners?
References: Watertechonline 9/10/09 – Softener bill passes
LA Times 9/10/09 – Water Softener bill
LA Times 6/26/09 – Culligan lobbies for its life