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Automatic Water Softeners Are Prohibited

In 2008, Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) voters passed Measure S, authorizing the Santa Clara River Chloride Reduction Ordinance, which required the removal of automatic, salt-based water softeners that discharge chloride to the sewer system. Installation of these water softeners has been prohibited in the SCV since 2003 to help protect the Santa Clara River and downstream agriculture from the negative impacts of high chloride levels being discharged into this waterway.

Automatic water softeners discharge a salty waste (chloride) into the sewer system that requires costly advanced treatment to prevent the salty waste from being released into the Santa Clara River, the only nearby waterway available for discharge. Too much salt in the river may harm downstream agricultural crops.

Why It Matters

The SCV Sanitation District was mandated to build and operate a specialized advanced water treatment facility at the Valencia Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) to remove chloride from wastewater before it is released into the Santa Clara River. The facility has been successfully operating since 2023. But too much chloride puts extra strain on the facility and significantly increases operating costs. If chloride levels increase beyond the facility’s treatment capacity, expensive expansions would be required.

 High chloride levels can:

Contact us at 1-877-CUT-SALT or cutsalt@lacsd.org for more information on the removal of automatic water softeners in the Santa Clarita Valley.