Salinity
Elevated salinity (dissolved mineral salts) in surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and in groundwater is an increasing problem affecting the Central Valley. While some salt is beneficial, too much salt can degrade water quality, jeopardize agricultural production, and increase the cost of our water supplies.
The majority of salts in sewage are not removed during treatment at the EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility, which discharges to the Sacramento River. That’s why we need your help to ensure that excess salts do not contaminate our precious water and soil.
You can help reduce salinity in our precious water resources by adopting a few simple practices.
How to Reduce Salinity
Tips for Residents
Household activities—such as cleaning, food preparation, and water softening—can add salt to sewage.
- Consider not using a water softener. Or choose a high-efficiency softener, exchange tank softener, or non-salt water softener.
- Choose liquid over powder laundry and dishwasher detergents, as powdered soaps contain more salt.
- Use the minimum amount needed of household cleaning products and personal care products.
- Choose dryer sheets over liquid fabric softeners.
Minimize the amount of water used for mopping, or better yet, use mopping pads. - Don’t put food waste down the sink disposal, as food waste is high in salt (food waste now goes in your organics cart).
- Reduce salt in your diet.
Tips for Businesses
Businesses can also help by implementing the following practices.
- Use the smallest amount of raw materials needed.
- Substitute organic-based raw materials and chemicals for mineral-based ones.
- Modify equipment, practices, or processes, such as elimination of salt-based water softeners, maximization of reverse osmosis efficiency, or minimization of pH adjustments, where practical.
Redirect waste by recycling.
Central Valley Salinity Collaborative Efforts
SacSewer participates in and provides funding for the Central Valley Salinity Coalition, a non-profit coalition of public agencies, businesses, associations, and other members working together to better manage salts in the Central Valley of California. SacSewer also participates in the Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS), a collaborative stakeholder program to develop sustainable salinity and nitrate management planning.
