Efficient operation will use less salt and less water
Some wastewater treatment plants have received more than two tons of salt every day for the past seven years, on average, and is seeking the public’s help, according to Douglas York.
“That much chloride (salt) goes into the environment every day from household drains, industrial discharges and commercial enterprises because we have no way to remove it at the treatment plant,” York said.
York, who serves as superintendent of the Water Pollution Control Commission, said the Department of Natural Resources has set limits on how much chlorides can be released into streams, rivers, lakes and ground waters in an effort to protect the public’s health and the environment.
“It sounds like the easy solution would be to just remove the chlorides from the treated wastewater before it is released to the receiving waters but that gets expensive,” he explained.
Desalinating that much water requires that the wastewater facility spend what York described as “enormous” amounts of money on plant upgrades to remove, collect, store and dispose of all that salt.
In an effort to reduce the problem, the commission is asking the public to review water softener settings and operating condition, and said some softeners are preset at the factory for the highest hardness setting, which may be costing more than is needed to properly treat the water.
“Softening your household water except for the cold water to the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks and outside faucets will help, ” York said.
Generally, water does not need to be softened at the highest settings unless it is going to be heated or used in an appliance. Hard water can cause limescale buildup in appliances like the water heater and damage them over time, requiring one to see a company like www.summersphc.com/noblesville/services/plumbing/water-heating-maintenance/ to repair them.
However, if the water is going to be drunk or used cold then softening is not a necessity. York said that “most people generally prefer the taste of hard over softened water.”
He also recommends people check the softeners’ timer, if it’s equipped with one, to ensure it’s properly adjusted because changes such as children moving out of the home and other factors can arise that effect water usage and systems that allow for an adjustment may save the owners’ money.
York also had some advice for those who have a vacation home in the area. “You might try turning the softener off for the months you are away,” he said, adding that it’s helpful for older, timer-initiated units.
Getting in touch with a local softener company is also recommended, for assistance with the softener system in place and to gain ideas on how to improve the performance of it.
“An efficiently operating softener uses less salt and less water, plain and simple,” York said. “Our goal is to reduce the chlorides entering our environment and your help is the key to our goal.”
For more information contact the Water Pollution Control Commission office by calling 262-736-4473 or emailing fwwpccoffice@sharontelephone.com.
