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HOW TO REDUCE IMPACT OF a WATER SOFTENER - How to Reduce Water Softener Effects on the Septic System and on Groundwater

If your water treatment equipment, such as a water softener, sulphur-odor remover, sediment filter, or chlorinator is properly adjusted, the concentration of chemicals discharged by the equipment should not harm the septic tank and drainfield, according to a septic-bacteria microbiologist whom we consulted. He explained that in a properly-operating water softener system the concentration of salt released into the septic system would be so low as to be harmless to the bacteria needed in septic tanks and drainfields.

But if water treatment is not working properly, or if it is simply not adjusted properly, both the water volume discharged by the equipment and the concentration of chemicals or salts discharged by the equipment might be a problem for the septic tank or drainfield. Here we list things you can do to protect the septic system from harm from water treatment equipment.

• Adjust the water softener to the recommended settings for the level of hardness of your water supply. (Some water softeners actually monitor water hardness and water usage and will adjust the recharge cycle frequency and salt dose automatically. Other water softeners require that these settings be made manually. Still simpler water softeners have no automatic recharge cycle and must be backwashed and recharged manually. See   SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CLEANING for details of how to do this, but also remember to check the actual hardness of your water supply and to adjust the softer according to the tables and instructions provided by the manufacturer.
  
• Set the water softener operating controls correctly as we discuss at Guide to Water softener Adjustment below. Be sure the water softener backwash frequency and salt dose are set properly for the hardness of your water and water volume usage. See   SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CLEANING for details.
• Don't use a water softener if it is not necessary. Test your water for hardness.
• Watch for malfunctioning water softening equipment: if you hear water running continuously in your drain you should track down the source to a leaky toilet tank, faucet, or malfunctioning water softener, etc.
  We have seen a septic drainfield completely flooded by a water softener that stuck in it's "backwash" cycle. Similarly, if a water softener is not properly adjusted it may use more salt, more potassium permanganate, or other water treatment chemicals than it should. Flushing salt, potassium permanganate, chlorine, or other chemicals into the septic system can cause a problem if it kills off septic tank bacteria or soil bacteria.
• Turn off the water softener when the building will be unoccupied. There is no need to recharge the water softener when no water is being used in the home. See Winterize Water Softener & Treatment Equip for the water softener shut-down procedure.
• Bypass the water softener when you are watering plants or washing the car.
  
  Some plumbers install a water line direct to an outside faucet, bypassing the water softener for this purpose.
  
  If you do not have a separate water line to an outside hose bib, you can temporarily put the water softener on "bypass" using a push-type control such as the one shown in this photograph.
  
  Remember to push the bypass lever back to softening position after such an outside use of water, lest you forget and clog your pipes with minerals. See Winterize Water Softener & Treatment Equip for details on how to do this.
  
  
• Use salt alternatives in the water softener: potassium chloride may be an acceptable alternative to normal salt or sodium chloride for problem areas
• Use a separate drywell to receive water softener backwash. This reduces the wastewater load on the septic system drainfield or seepage bed. Using a separate drywell to receive water softener backwash, or backwash from any water treatment equipment, also reduces the chances that water treatment chemicals will harm bacteria in the septic tank or drainfield.
  
  Water treatment chemicals such as salt, potassium permanganate (often used to remove a sulphur odor from water), chlorine or other disinfectants will not usually harm a septic system provided that they enter the septic tank in a dilute solution such as that provided by a normal, properly-adjusted water softener. But should the equipment mal-function or be mal-adjusted, both water quantity and chemicals in water discharged by the treatment equipment might be a problem.
• Connect to municipal water supply (if available) so that your water will arrive already properly conditioned and wont' require softening
• See water softener maintenance guide of how to adjust the water softener and how to clean the water softener salt tank at   SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CLEANING

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WHAT CAN GO INTO TOILETS & DRAINS?
  DETECT HARD WATER
  MEASURE WATER HARDNESS
  HOW SOFTENERS WORK
  HEALTH RISKS & WATER SOFTENERS
  SALT OR WATER INTO SEPTIC
  REDUCE IMPACT OF SOFTENER
  SOFTENER ADJUSTMENT & CLEANING
  OTHER SOFTENER METHODS
  Winterize Water Softener & Treatment Equip
  Restoring Water Softener & Treatment Equip

• North Dakota Standards for Water Softeners, North Dakota General Authority Law, Chapter 62-04-08, Water Softener Units http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/62-04-08.pdf. "The objective of this chapter is to provide a standard of quality, capacity, and performance for water softener units. Water softener performance is to be based upon referee tests procedures described in section 62-04-08-09."
• Culligan Mark 10 Water Softener 1994-1998 Installation and Operating Instructions (covering models manufactured after 1995) (1-96) 01881948.pdf available from www.culligan.com
• Water Softeners, CMHC, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/wawa/wawa_005.cfm - October 2008. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation acknowledges the contribution of Health Canada to the development of this document. For further questions regarding water treatment and water quality, contact Health Canada at watereau@hc-sc.gc.ca or call 613-957-2991 or 1-866-225-0709.
• "Commercial Water Softener Installation and Operating Instructions", IBC Filtration & Water Treatment Products (Australia) for commercial, industrial and residential application www.ibcwater.com.au (07) 3219 2233
• "Non electric water softener, Installation and Operating Instructions", IBC Filtration & Water Treatment Products (Australia), op.cit.
• "Water Softener Twin Tank Installation and Operating Instructions", IBC Filtration & Water Treatment Products (Australia), op.cit.
• Our Water Hardness Table used at originated with but was edited and added to from http://www.bestfish.com/tips/110598.html and also from http://www.water-research.net/hardness.htm
• Watts Industries of North Andover, Mass., provides its ZRO-4 under counter system intended to target the independent water dealer market.
  

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems


• Cesspools Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
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• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location


• Additives & Chemicals: Septic System Maintenance - Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
• Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• Cheating on Water Tests - (Chlorine in Wells and Septics) Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - Water Test Cheating Warnings for Home Buyers and Home Inspectors
• Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
• What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
• Contamination in Buildings how to test buildings for bacterial contamination from Sewage and Septic backup, remediation, & references
• Leach Field Inspection Procedure Septic Leach Fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures - what causes septic field failure?
• Maintenance: Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Sewage & Septic Backups and what to do about sewage spillage in buildings
• Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Water Usage: Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Typical residential water usage for people, appliances, and activities.

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