diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 61cf6b50..cc64ef01 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ $ docker cp /path/to/your/backup.json container_name:/path/inside/container/back
 $ docker-compose -f local.yml run --rm django python manage.py loaddata /path/inside/the/container/backup.json
 $ docker-compose -f local.yml run --rm django python manage.py migrate
 ```
+### Restoring the Database from a SQL Dump
+If the JSON file is particularly large (>1.5GB), Docker might struggle with this method. In such cases, you can use SQL dump and restore commands as an alternative, as described [here](./SQLDumpRestoration.md).
+
+
 
 ## Additional Commands
 
@@ -191,8 +195,7 @@ Documented [here](https://github.com/NASA-IMPACT/sde-indexing-helper/wiki/How-to
 
 ## Adding New Features/Fixes
 
-1. Start with a [GitHub issue](https://github.com/NASA-IMPACT/sde-indexing-helper/issues).
-2. Use the GitHub CLI to create branches and pull requests (`gh issue develop -c <issue_number>`).
+We welcome contributions to improve the project! Before you begin, please take a moment to review our [Contributing Guidelines](./CONTRIBUTING.md). These guidelines will help you understand the process for submitting new features, bug fixes, and other improvements.
 
 ## Job Creation
 
diff --git a/SQLDumpRestoration.md b/SQLDumpRestoration.md
index 49e78994..6b4792be 100644
--- a/SQLDumpRestoration.md
+++ b/SQLDumpRestoration.md
@@ -29,10 +29,14 @@ $ docker exec -it 23d33f22cc43 bash
 3. Create a connection to the database.
 
 ```
-psql -U VnUvMKBSdkoFIETgLongnxYHrYVJKufn -d sde_indexing_helper
+psql -U <POSTGRES_USER> -d <POSTGRES_DB>
 ```
 
-4. Ensure that the database `sde_indexing_helper` is empty.
+**Note**:
+- For local deployment, refer to the `.envs/.local/.postgres` file for the `POSTGRES_USER` and `POSTGRES_DB` variables.
+- For production deployment, refer to the `.envs/.production/.postgres` file.
+
+4. Ensure that the database `<POSTGRES_DB>` is empty. Here's an example:
 
 ```
 sde_indexing_helper-# \c
@@ -44,8 +48,8 @@ Did not find any relations.
 If the database is not empty, delete its contents to create a fresh database:
 
 ```
-sde_indexing_helper=# \c postgres
-You are now connected to database "postgres" as user "VnUvMKBSdkoFIETgLongnxYHrYVJKufn".
+sde_indexing_helper=# \c postgres      //connect to a different database before dropping
+You are now connected to database "postgres" as user "VnUvMKBSdk....".
 postgres=# DROP DATABASE sde_indexing_helper;
 DROP DATABASE
 postgres=# CREATE DATABASE sde_indexing_helper;
@@ -62,13 +66,13 @@ docker cp /local/path/backup.sql 23d33f22cc43:/
 6. Import the SQL dump into the PostgreSQL container.
 
 ```
-psql -U VnUvMKBSdkoFIETgLongnxYHrYVJKufn -d sde_indexing_helper -f backup.sql
+psql -U <POSTGRES_USER> -d <POSTGRES_DB> -f backup.sql
 ```
 
 **Note**: To create a SQL dump of your PostgreSQL database, use the following command:
 
 ```
-pg_dump -U VnUvMKBSdkoFIETgLongnxYHrYVJKufn -W -F p -f backup.sql sde_indexing_helper
+pg_dump -U <POSTGRES_USER> -W -F p -f backup.sql <POSTGRES_DB>
 ```
 
 7. Bring up all containers at once, and create a superuser account for logging in.