The installation of automatic water softening appliances is prohibited in the Santa Clarita Valley since the Automatic Water Softener Ordinance took effect on March 27, 2003. Automatic water softeners discharge a salty waste into the sewer system that is treated by a process that does not remove salt; therefore, the salty waste is released into the Santa Clara River. Too much salt in the river may harm downstream agricultural crops.

The Sanitation District's goal is to reduce salt in an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and timely manner, in order to comply with the state’s legal limit for chloride discharged to the river. Measure S, approved by voters on November 4, 2008, enacted the Santa Clara River Chloride Reduction Ordinance of 2008. The Santa Clara River Chloride Reduction Ordinance of 2008 required the removal of all residential automatic water softeners by June 30, 2009. These efforts have resulted in the removal of over 8,000 salt discharging automatic water softeners and significant reductions in chloride levels.

The Sanitation District is conducting home inspections to remove the remaining automatic water softeners in the community. Residents that still have automatic water softeners can find information on how to remove their unit and obtain related information below.

Contact us for more information on the removal of automatic water softeners in the Santa Clarita Valley.