MARSHALL — The city of Marshall will be using wastewater funds to continue a water softener rebate program started to help reduce the amount of salt that ends up in the Redwood River. On Tuesday, members of the Marshall City Council voted to approve a request from city wastewater plant superintendent Scott Truedson.

“We’d like to continue the program, utilizing dedicated funds currently in the wastewater budget,” Truedson said. “The program could also continue in future years as a more limited wastewater budgeted item.”

Truedson said the rebate program has helped the city cut down on the amount of chlorides released into the Redwood River. Over the past several years, the city has been working to try and meet stricter limits on the amount of chlorides that can be discharged from the Marshall wastewater plant.

“Has it solved our chloride problem? Not yet, but it’s certainly helped,” he said.

The city now pre-softens its water to reduce the need for water softener salt in homes. Marshall also received a state grant to help provide free water softener optimization, and to offer rebates for upgrading old and inefficient water softeners.

“We’ve done a lot of advertising” for the rebate program, Truedson said. The city has made use of the local newspaper and radio to spread the word about the rebate program, as well as social media, utility bill inserts, and more. “Staff at wastewater mailed about 140 letters, basically aiming at property owners,” he said. “We contacted industries, schools, churches, the hospital — and just right down to door-knocking.”

Truedson said the city rebate program has led to at least 82 water softener optimizations, 85 water softener replacements by contractors, and 10 do-it-yourself water softener replacements. In addition, 107 water softeners were removed from properties.

“Removals was one thing that really took off. A lot of rental landlords just removed (water softeners),” he said.

Truedson said the participation numbers compared to the population of Marshall “weren’t fantastic,” but he thought there were also people who had made changes to their water softeners without applying for a rebate. Industries in Marshall were also working to reduce chloride discharge, he said.

Truedson said he wanted to ask the city council if the rebate program should continue. The city has used up the MPCA grant funds it received for the original program in 2022.

“By having that available and helping to take a bite out of that cost, we think it will be effective in getting people to remove them,” said Marshall Public Works Director Jason Anderson. Anderson said the request was also that the city consider funding the rebate program on an annual basis.

“I think it’s a great request. I just wonder where the money’s going to come from since we’re short and we’re looking at that,” said council member Steven Meister. Meister asked whether the city could get grant funds to find out how many water softeners were in Marshall to help target the communication about softener adjustments.

In discussion of the rebate program request, council member See Moua-Leske also suggested reaching out to the Karen church in Marshall, to help reach local homeowners who don’t speak English.

A motion to continue the rebate program passed 5-1, with Meister casting the vote against.