The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District (SCV Sanitation District) offers an automatic water softener free removal program. If you have an automatic water softener, you may apply to have it removed free of charge by a "Sanitation District-authorized" licensed plumber.

• Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program Application (PDF)
• Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program Application (DOC)

Please fully complete and sign the application prior to submission. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. Completed applications may be emailed to cutsalt@lacsd.org or mailed to:

Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
P.O. Box 4998
Whittier, CA 90607
Attn: AWS Free Removal Program

Applying is simple:

1. Complete the one-page application and return it to the SCV Sanitation District (forms can be obtained by clicking on the Application Form link above).
2. Once the application is approved, you will be mailed an approval letter and list of licensed plumbers authorized to remove the water softener at no cost to you.
3. Select a plumber from the approved list and schedule an appointment to have the water softener removed from your home at your convenience. 

As you may be aware, 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.

The Santa Clara River Chloride Reduction Ordinance of 2008, which was enacted upon voter approval of Measure S on the November 4, 2008, ballot, required the removal of all residential automatic water softeners by June 30, 2009. This AWS free removal program is intended to incentivize the removal and hold harmless new homeowners with an illegal water softener already installed in their home through no fault of their own.

To qualify for the Automatic Water Softener Free Removal Program, the automatic water softener, the kind to which you add rock salt or potassium chloride, must be owned by the applicant (rentals are not eligible). Portable exchange tanks, which are rental units where the softening tank is exchanged periodically by a service provider for a new softening tank, are legal to use and therefore not eligible.

The automatic water softener must be installed in a residential unit (e.g., house, multiplex, condominium, apartment, or mobile home) that is served by the SCV Sanitation District. Residences outside of the SCV Sanitation District or served by septic tanks are not eligible. The program is limited to one free removal per site address (location where the automatic water softener is installed).

If you would like to dispose of the salt or potassium chloride yourself, it must be disposed of as household hazardous waste. Residents of the City of Santa Clarita may call "At Your Door" at (800) 449-7587 to schedule a free household hazardous waste pickup.

Residents of unincorporated Los Angeles County may dispose of salt for free at the Saugus Water Reclamation Plant located at 26200 Springbrook Avenue in Santa Clarita. At the Saugus Water Reclamation Plant, salt is collected at the Liquid Waste Disposal Station. Enter the station by driving through the railroad crossing located opposite Saugus Suzuki at 26081 Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus. The station is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is closed on Sundays and major holidays.

All residents may also dispose of salt for free at the annual Santa Clarita Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events and at the East San Fernando Valley S.A.F.E. Collection Center. The East San Fernando Valley S.A.F.E. Center is located at 11025 Randall Street in Sun Valley and is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except on major holidays.

If you have additional questions or need further assistance, please call 877-CUT-SALT or email cutsalt@lacsd.org.