Water softener discharge, septic question

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/

I live in the country on 7 acres. Mine drains out side next to the barn.

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.

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

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!

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 ?!?!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All our water is softened and most exits into the septic tank .
Have never had an issue and it's been over 60 years.

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?