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Water softener discharge, septic question #2852589
11/28/20 03:17 PM
11/28/20 03:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,760
St. Louis, Missouri area
Cometstorm Offline OP
"Beat It"
Cometstorm  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
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St. Louis, Missouri area
For those of you with water softeners and septic tanks, what is your softener discharge method?


Sump pit, floor drain leading to septic tank, or some other method?

Our house was built in 1991, we are original owners.

For years, I ran the water softener line to the floor drain/septic. Then I read somewhere that was a bad idea.

For the last 15 years or so, I’ve ran the line to the sump pit (winter), or through the basement foundation into outside buried drain tile (non winter).

But this causes the sump pump to wear and rust prematurely, so I’m thinking of going back to the drain/septic.

This article seems to indicate it’s OK to discharge into septic.

What do you do?

https://www.water-rightgroup.com/resources/septic-system-water-softener/


Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Cometstorm] #2852592
11/28/20 03:20 PM
11/28/20 03:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,398
Dandridge TN
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Dabee Offline
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Dandridge TN
I live in the country on 7 acres. Mine drains out side next to the barn.

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Dabee] #2852604
11/28/20 03:42 PM
11/28/20 03:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,760
St. Louis, Missouri area
Cometstorm Offline OP
"Beat It"
Cometstorm  Offline OP
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St. Louis, Missouri area
My line is only 3/4 inches, and will freeze up at the end in the depths of winter, which is why I put in in the sump w!ell in the winter...it has a wider line. The basement discharge line is long.... opposite corners.

As to going back to putting it in the floor drain and ultimately septic, I guess load factors are in our favor:

2100 square ft house, 900 gallon septic I think (it has three concrete caps), and only husband/wife occupancy.

Last edited by Cometstorm; 11/28/20 03:43 PM.
Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Cometstorm] #2852646
11/28/20 05:33 PM
11/28/20 05:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,810
Sobieski Wi
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bee1971 Offline
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Sobieski Wi
House built 1999

I added the water softener myself - It drains into the sump pump pit - Discharges outside the foundation into a hose

Honestly until the last three years my sump pump hardly ever ran - Really high water levels in WI lately and the fact I live in a sandbox on a couple acres - Been running the last three summers non stop

Only problem I ever had with any sump pump was the actual switch - Never had one rust or wear out in any of the houses I own

Menards on some models have lifetime warranty as long as you kept the receipt and box

A quality sump pump is a great investment


My 1500 gallon conventional septic tank with drainage field has to bee pumped out every three years - State WI/County law - I have to have the proper paperwork filled out by da pumper and sent to the county

Never considered running the water softener into the septic tank honestly


1971 Dodge Charger Superbee
2011 Ram Sport 1500 Quad Cab Deep Water Blue Loaded
Siberian Huskies
Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: bee1971] #2852666
11/28/20 06:38 PM
11/28/20 06:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,935
WI
Dcuda69 Offline
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WI
House built in 89. My softener drains into the laundry tubs which in turn drain in the floor crock(same as washer,furnace drains,etc) That in turn has a pump(like a sump pump)that sends it all to the septic tank. I've replaced the pump a couple times, last time while shopping for a pump, they asked me about the softener and recommended a plastic body pump. It's been in there quite a while now without issue. Septic guy was here this spring, said everything looks great!

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: bee1971] #2852667
11/28/20 06:41 PM
11/28/20 06:41 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
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Stanton  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
Any "harm" would be the salt water contaminating the soil. That said, most septics, etc are deep enough that it wouldn't affect any plant growth. Furthermore. how often does the unit regenerate and how much salt water does it use? And what's worse, your water softener waste or throwing 50 pounds of salt on your driveway every time it snows ?!?!

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Stanton] #2852830
11/29/20 10:34 AM
11/29/20 10:34 AM
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Posts: 957
MI, Lapeer
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maximus Offline
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MI, Lapeer
As I see it, you can drain it anywhere except the septic tank. The tank needs bacteria to work properly. By adding salt you are preserving the waste that goes into it. If the solids do not break down in the tank you will at some time plug your septic field. Just me thinking out loud.

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Dabee] #2853405
11/30/20 03:40 PM
11/30/20 03:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
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Manitoba, Canada
Originally Posted by Dabee
I live in the country on 7 acres. Mine drains out side next to the barn.


Same here. I setup my softener on the main floor so it would be an easy run for it to dump outside. I know several other people who have done the same.

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Cometstorm] #2853622
11/30/20 11:37 PM
11/30/20 11:37 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 164
Maryland
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ro23_j Offline
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ro23_j  Offline
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Maryland
My house was built in 1989, we bought it in 1999. Backwash from the water softener has always gone to the septic tank by gravity, no sump pump. We sold the house last month and the the new owners requested a septic inspection which I was present for. Septic tank and drain field were fine and no problems noted after 31 years. You can draw your own conclusions.

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: Cometstorm] #2856313
12/06/20 10:47 PM
12/06/20 10:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,661
Jefferson State
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srt Offline
ESYC
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Jefferson State
An option is potassium chloride. More spendy, but decreases your salt intake if you drink the water (and have high blood pressure. The back wash can be used for watering plants as they use the nutrient to grow.
There are also TAC water softeners more expensive to buy but over time saves money. They use charcoal as the product to remove hardness.

Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: maximus] #2856528
12/07/20 01:22 PM
12/07/20 01:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
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jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
Originally Posted by maximus
As I see it, you can drain it anywhere except the septic tank. The tank needs bacteria to work properly. By adding salt you are preserving the waste that goes into it. If the solids do not break down in the tank you will at some time plug your septic field. Just me thinking out loud.


And correctly IMO, salt has no known benefit I am aware of for the proper function of a septic tank, anyone's salt contribution to their septic system may not be noticeable as harmful, but it cannot be helpful.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: jcc] #2857041
12/08/20 01:02 PM
12/08/20 01:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,653
The Historic Hudson Valley
MONC Offline
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The Historic Hudson Valley
All our water is softened and most exits into the septic tank .
Have never had an issue and it's been over 60 years.


Mopar
Or
No
Car
Re: Water softener discharge, septic question [Re: MONC] #2857132
12/08/20 03:35 PM
12/08/20 03:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
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jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Bitopia
Maybe I am confused then, I thought the issue here was the used salt wash brine, being dumped in quantity in a burst(?), without any extra dilution, into the septic, likely really upsetting the enviroment for theneeded bacteria?


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.






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