Scooby074
Super Member
Interesting thread.
Mine dumps into my septic. No problems yet but i wonder if its the best idea.
Mine dumps into my septic. No problems yet but i wonder if its the best idea.
Water softener waste line
- Thread starter tomd999
- Start date
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Dmace
Elite Member
I guarantee you it's not "the best idea".
A dry well is the best way to dispose of water softener waste, try not to just let it run out onto the top soil.
Here's a good write-up of some practices and laws setup in Rhode Island by the Department of Environmental Management.
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/permits/privwell/pdfs/backwash.pdf
redberankubota
Member
Our home is twenty years old...never had a problem , so yes , it CAN be done...I would probably not have done it that way if I built the house though.
As others have said...i think it depends on YOUR application , and how often the system regens.
As others have said...i think it depends on YOUR application , and how often the system regens.
IXLR8
Veteran Member
I had a water softener in my house in Mass, discharge was connected to the septic line. I was told by the home inspector when I bought the house that in Mass that was illegal. There was a line already set up for dumping it outside the house. I hooked it to that and all was fine until the next winter when that line froze. I hooked it back up to the septic line and left it until I sold the house. Then I hooked it back up to the outside discharge and it passed inspection no issues.
plowking
Gold Member
I clean septics in NH. The tank and outlet filters in a tank with a softener attached to it will be clogged with a black goo, that is the minerals being flushed from softener along with the dissolved salt. The newer sytems,Presby,Enviroseptic,etc. can take a beating from softeners and medicines peopletake daily. It will clog the membrane[fabric] around the tubes,especially if the fields aren't vented. My softener goes to a seperate drain. It is allowed in NH,may have to have a designer advise you where to locate it. The septic designs can have disclaimers that prohibit softener,garbage disposal or jacuzzi tubs from draining into septic. That way the septic designer doesn't take the blame if a system has an early failure. The newer systems may not last 20-30 years like the older stone systems. The membrane acts like a filter. In theory the effluent water is suppose to be cleaner leaving the bottom of the membrane then the effluent draining thru stone into sand. plowking