GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island has been preparing to cut in half its discharge of chloride from the city wastewater treatment plant, anticipating a state regulation that will take effect next year.

The city will have 4½ years to comply with the tougher rule.

The state is following national water quality regulations, and there is concern that high chloride, or salt, levels kill water fleas and flathead minnows, which are food for many fish species.

The city can’t access enough water to dilute the salt level in its discharge, because there isn’t enough water flowing by in the Platte River all through the year. So the city is working with the JBS beef plant and other industrial customers to reduce the salt content of their wastewater.