The Region of Waterloo will launch a pilot program in 2020 that encourages homeowners to install water softeners that soften hot water only.

The program will provide a one-time rebate of $50 for 175 households in 2020 and 350 households per year from 2021 to 2023.

The aim of the three-year plan is to reduce water softening salt from entering local rivers, conserve drinking water and save people money.

Steve Gombos the Water Efficiency Manager for the Region of Waterloo said once people have made the change "it's basically money in the bank for the environment."

"We've been getting calls from people who want to know how they can help the environment. And a lot of people realize that it's inconvenient to carry salt and they're thinking well you know if I don't have to use a softener that uses salt or use less salt then it's less work," said Gombos.

"It also helps the environment. So this is an opportunity for people to to help the environment every day and they don't have to think about it once it's done."

The region said in a statement that softening hot water only "will reduce household salt and water consumption by an estimated 65 per cent and would save a three-person household about $84 a year in water and salt costs."

"We asked plumbers how much it would cost to make the plumbing conversion to soften hot water only as opposed to having the hot and the cold softened. And you know they're estimating you know approximately 200 to 250 dollars," said Gombos. "But people can do it themselves if they're handy as well. So they still would be eligible for the rebate even if they did it themselves."

A report to the region said about 142,000 households in the region use what's called an ion exchange water softener which discharges an estimated 21,000 tonnes of salt which ends up in local rivers.The program is scheduled to begin in July 2020.