Protect Your Shoreline With An Itasca Waters Shoreland Advisor

Low and No Salt Water Softening and Conditioning

Presented by: Alycia Overboe, received her PhD in Water Resources Science from University of Minnesota, where she researched sources of chloride pollution to Minnesota waters and environmental impacts of water softening. She holds an M.S. in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. in biology from St. Olaf College. Alycia currently supervises the Communications and Strategic Initiatives Unit within the Drinking Water Protection program at Minnesota Department of Health.

Salt pollution is an increasing concern in Minnesota, as salt use for water softening, deicing roads, and other applications can lead to increasing chloride levels in our lakes, streams, and rivers. Elevated chloride levels can be harmful to aquatic ecosystems and species like dragonflies and freshwater mussels. Research in Minnesota has identified water softening as a major source of chloride, as much of the state has very hard water and home water softening is common. There is high interest in low- and no-salt treatment alternatives to reduce chloride pollution, but there is limited research and guidance for consumers. 

Links from the video: Water Softening: https://wrc.umn.edu/watersoftening

Chloride: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/pollutant...

Home Water Treatment Facts: https://www.health.state.mn.us/commun...

Home Water Softening: https://www.health.state.mn.us/commun...

2 page pdf "Chloride in Minnesota Waters": https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Zoq...