Water softeners and septic tanks
 

I had a water softener at my previous house, where we had sewer service.
It was great.

We moved to a house with a septic tank not long ago, and I've been
wondering what the implications are of having the water softener
discharge the rinse water into the septic tank.

Good, bad, indifferent?

In case it matters, we're a family of two adults, two kids, and the
septic tank holds 1500 gallons. The leach field seems to be in good
shape, it was installed in 2002. The tank was pumped in late 2005, when
we bought the house.

Thanks.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

"Javier" wrote in message
...
I had a water softener at my previous house, where we had sewer service. It
was great.

We moved to a house with a septic tank not long ago, and I've been
wondering what the implications are of having the water softener discharge
the rinse water into the septic tank.

Good, bad, indifferent?

In case it matters, we're a family of two adults, two kids, and the septic
tank holds 1500 gallons. The leach field seems to be in good shape, it was
installed in 2002. The tank was pumped in late 2005, when we bought the
house.

Thanks

I don't believe that the .salts washed from the resin bed would be good for
the leach field - they would build up. I can't speak for your situation but
our softener had it's own drain line to a dry well where the water leached
into the subsoil (I was told by the previous owner). I verified this while
the septic tank was being pumped by manually cycling the softener. Nothing
went into the tank. You that might try the same to verify.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

C&E,

You lost me. You fear the build up of salt at your leach field but think
that the build up of salt is ok at your drywell. Why is that?

Dave M.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:48:15 -0400, "C & E"
wrote:

"Javier" wrote in message
...
I had a water softener at my previous house, where we had sewer service. It
was great.

We moved to a house with a septic tank not long ago, and I've been
wondering what the implications are of having the water softener discharge
the rinse water into the septic tank.

Good, bad, indifferent?

In case it matters, we're a family of two adults, two kids, and the septic
tank holds 1500 gallons. The leach field seems to be in good shape, it was
installed in 2002. The tank was pumped in late 2005, when we bought the
house.

Thanks

I don't believe that the .salts washed from the resin bed would be good for
the leach field - they would build up. I can't speak for your situation but
our softener had it's own drain line to a dry well where the water leached
into the subsoil (I was told by the previous owner). I verified this while
the septic tank was being pumped by manually cycling the softener. Nothing
went into the tank. You that might try the same to verify.



Salt build-up won't hurt the leachfield any, but it might affect the
aquifer under it (if any) and/or anything growing over it.

On the oder hand, if you have anything with significant roots
growing into your leachfield, you probably WANT to kill it.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

David Martel wrote:

C&E,

You lost me. You fear the build up of salt at your leach field but think
that the build up of salt is ok at your drywell. Why is that?

Dave M.

The drywell is not tasked with biologically breaking down waste material
like the septic system is. High salt in the drywell area shouldn't
matter much, while high salt in the septic system could interfere with
the necessary bacteria.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

My experience thus far has been OK. No issue. My septic service (I get it
pumped every 18 - 24 months) sees no issue with the system. I have been on
my softener system for approx 5 years.


"Javier" wrote in message
...
I had a water softener at my previous house, where we had sewer service. It
was great.

We moved to a house with a septic tank not long ago, and I've been
wondering what the implications are of having the water softener discharge
the rinse water into the septic tank.

Good, bad, indifferent?

In case it matters, we're a family of two adults, two kids, and the septic
tank holds 1500 gallons. The leach field seems to be in good shape, it was
installed in 2002. The tank was pumped in late 2005, when we bought the
house.

Thanks.

Water softeners and septic tanks
 

been a water conditioner guy for 33 years, with lots
of conditioners in the country...and never has a
customer complained about the salt being a problem
with the leach fields
"Javier" wrote in message
...
I had a water softener at my previous house, where we had sewer service. It
was great.

We moved to a house with a septic tank not long ago, and I've been
wondering what the implications are of having the water softener discharge
the rinse water into the septic tank.

Good, bad, indifferent?

In case it matters, we're a family of two adults, two kids, and the septic
tank holds 1500 gallons. The leach field seems to be in good shape, it was
installed in 2002. The tank was pumped in late 2005, when we bought the
house.

Thanks.