The salt-free diet Scottsdale golf courses have agreed to go on to keep their fairways greener is now being considered for other city water uses, including the household tap.
City officials are talking about encouraging residents and businesses to replace water softeners that use table salt, or sodium chloride, with ones that use potassium chloride, said city spokesman Mike Phillips. No specific plan is in place yet, however.
While more expensive than sodium chloride systems, potassium chloride won't put salt back into the water supply, Phillips said. Already, 23 Scottsdale-based golf courses have agreed to contribute $22.5 million to remove salt from the effluent, or non-drinkable water they receive from the city to replenish their greens and fairways.
If residents and businesses stop using sodium chloride-based water-softening systems, less salt would be going back into sewers and treatment plants that prepare water for use on the links, Phillips said.
In addition to this program, the city has independently been researching other methods to compel residents and business owners to switch from sodium-based water softeners to potassium-based ones. Phillips did acknowledge that part of the difficulty in persuading people to make the switch is cost. |