Septic system leaching bed failure

[midlf]

I did some reading and web searches on this subject a while back. I was trying to determine if I should route my softener discharge to the septic or do something else with it. Routing out to grass was not an option, it was killing the grass. It seemed that the salts discharge, calcium mostly, was not good if the leach bed was in a clay soil. Sand and gravel based soils did not appear to be a problem. I wish I had kept the websites I visited. I ended up routing to the septic, one reference indicated the extra salts helped the tank but that seems to be a bit of a reach. My softener is a low volume discharge unit.

 

[Dirthog]

If you run the drain for the softener in to the septic the salt in it the will kill the bactaria in the tank and the system will plug up very quick

 

[plowking]

I ran my softener into drain for my foundation and gutters. I used a hammerdrill and only have 6 inches exposed, but cover with pipe insulation. In winter I change the settings on clock so softener discharges during day when it is warmer. The discharge does not contain any bacteria, that is why in N.H. it can be discharged to a seperate drain. The septic designs have disclaimers on them for any responciibilty for early failure of system from softener discharges or other things the designer doesn't recommend go into system. I am in the septic cleaning business and I see a lot of new systems, some of them are technological and use an air pump or air compressor to induce oxygen into the system to improve the quality of wastewater going into the drainfield. plowking

 

[Gavman]

If you have to go ahead and replace the system, have you considered putting an aerobic system in. They are less effected by tree roots and such. Plus, if you don't have room for another leach field, it would fix that problem.