Water Softener Discharge Into Septic Tank

Here s how the water softener affects your septic system and what you can do about it.

Water softener discharge into septic tank.

When the water softener resin is backwashed two or three times a week concentrated brine enters the wastewater stream as a slug of 38 to 112 gallons each backwash cycle. It can if it is not maintained or if your septic system is too small. The answer is to direct the backwash water into the surface water drains which should not be connected to the sewage system. If local code allows i would recommend diverting the softener backwash water to another location outside of the septic system.

The discharge volume of about 50 gallons per regeneration did not overload the tank and was on par with other household appliances like. This is a large surge load which can upset the settling process in the tank. Tank faucet or malfunctioning water softener etc. This could overload the tank and or disrupt the settling of solids forcing solid waste and effluent into the drain field before bacterial action could be completed and before water was clarified.

The septic tank discharges water into a drain field as more wastewater is released from the home. It uses a high salt brine which eventually ends up in your septic tank. For more tips on reducing the impact of the water softener on a septic system please refer to the reverse side or. But if a water softener is improperly adjusted or if it is not working properly excessive salt or softener backwash discharge if sent into the septic tank and leach fields can damage or reduce the life of the septic.

The mineral deposits on the dripping water pipe in the photo at left are evidence of both a protracted leak and hard water. This can lead to clogging and. A water softener dumps from 50 gallons to 100 gallons of water into the system when it regenerates. Most reputable sewage treatment plant and septic tank manufacturers will not allow the regenerant from water softeners to be discharged into their tanks and their warranties are null and void if this happens.

Ridem water softener backwash brine bmps may 2012 2 water softener backwash brine can also adversely affect the septic system. Contrary to what some people say water softener backwash poses a problem not only to septic tanks and drainfields but also to advanced treatment systems. This causes two problems. Brine disrupts the settling of solids in the septic tank and reduces the available volume for solids separation potentially resulting in solids and grease entering the leachfield.

How a water softener works.