Hamburg Township Bans Salt In Water Softeners
April 10, 2010

Some Hamburg Township residents will now be required to change what they put into their water softeners. On Tuesday, the board approved an ordinance requiring residents who discharge into the township’s sewer system to switch from sodium chloride to the more expensive potassium chloride. The township is among 40 Michigan municipalities considering a ban on the use of salt in water softeners in order to comply with state regulations on the allowable levels of sodium at wastewater treatment plants. When Hamburg’s plant was built, there were no limits. But Supervisor Pat Hohl says with new regulations in place, the township has no choice but to take steps to bring down sodium chloride levels, which are more than double the state’s acceptable limits. The ordinance will take effect in early May. Officials will then begin sampling throughout the summer with the hopes of bringing the township into compliance by September 1st. For anyone not in compliance, fines of $75 will be levied per quarter. Hohl adds that this is not something the township wants to do but Hohl says they will have an expanding environmental mess if nothing is done.

http://www.whmi.com/news/article/9985