Salt-Water Contamination Information
- Rob Johnston
- Nov 13, 2018
- 2 min read

Benefits of Using In-Situ Amendment Remediation for Salt Water Contamination
Reduced Overall Cost - 60% to 95% Less Cost
Minimal Visibility
Reduced Effect on the Area.
Reduced Man-power Needs.
Improved Soil Structure
Reduced Potential Liability
Salt Water Facts and Basics Rules:
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) – Clay density based on receptor sites.
Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) - A measure of the free salts in the soil
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) – Amount of sodium bound to the clay.
Water and Time cause free sodium to bind to the soil, sterilizing the soil.
New spills are easier and cheaper to treat than Historical Spills
(Almost) Never try to wash salts from the soil, it facilitated sodium binding and rapidly increases sodic contamination.
Amendment treatments with NaClean or Salt Rx are cumulative.
Lab Analysis enable tracking of remediation efforts from start to finish.
Chlorides were removed from the EPA-MCL list in 1997 and reconfirmed in 2003. Chlorides are not a contaminate!
Chlorides will Flush without Treatment.
The Sodium from the Salt Water Causes the Damage to the Soil through Cationic Binding.
Salt Contamination is PROGRESSIVE, AGGRESSIVE and facilitated by Water.
Sodium Contaminated Soil Remains Sterile until the Sodium is Actively Removed and Replaced
The R & A Process for Salt-Water Remediation
Mechanically break-up contaminated soils. (Process may be accomplished utilizing a tractor with a disk, tiller, backhoe or Track hoe)
Add Mulch, Hay, Bagasse, Rice Hulls, Wood Chips or other items to lift and bulk the soil for improved percolation.
Spray NaClean or Salt Rx in predetermined quantities. (Based on contamination levels or The First Response Chart)
Flush with Clean Water. (Rain can be used or Irrigation water can be added.)
Wait from 2 to 12 months to plant grass or other indigenous plants. (Planting time is based on the amount of contamination and the amount of water added to the site after the treatment.)
Remediation times can be reduced by adding more NaClean or Salt Rx, additional tilling after treatment and regular watering.
3 Things effect the speed of NaClean or Salt Rx Remediation:
The ability of water to pass through the soil – Percolation
The amount of DeSalt Utilized on the site.
The amount of water available to the site.
(Adjusting any or all of these 3 items can speed the remediation process.)
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