There are other advantages that are directly related to the use of ion exchange softened water when the hardness minerals calcium and magnesium are removed by softening, The homeowner uses less soap - studies have indicated as much as 50 – 75% less. Dr Miller points out that when the septic system is receiving water only, containing a very low mineral content, and not receiving the mineral salts from the backwash cycle, this condition “might result in swelling and dispersion of clay and lowered hydraulic conductivity in the absorption field”. Fred P Miller, Professor of Soil Science, Department of Agronomy, University of Maryland indicates this same conclusion. The University of Wisconsin and the National Sanitation Foundation reports clearly indicate that when the sodium content from the softener regeneration cycle is discharged into the soil via a septic system along with other salts such as calcium, magnesium, and iron the result is an improvement in the soil’s percolation rather than a detriment.Ī letter from Dr. The calcium and magnesium in softener regeneration wastes contribute to good air and water movement (improved soil percolation) through the septic system drainage field. In fact, they are lower in volume and rate of addition than wastes from automatic washers. the volume of waste from a water softener that is added to the septic tank is not of sufficient volume to cause any deleterious hydraulic load problems. The addition of sodium to a septic system by use of soft water actually has beneficial effects on the digestion of wastes by bacteria. This conclusion is supported by the Ten States’ “ Recommended Standards for Individual Sewage Systems” The states have concluded that even in Montmorillonite clay soils, the disposal of brine wastes from water softening equipment does not have a significant effect upon the permeability of soils suitable for soil absorption systems. It has not caused damage or hazards but it has provided convenience and economic savings to many homeowners. The allowance of water treatment system discharges to hundreds of thousands of septic tank systems is practically universal now. These studies conclusively show that water softener waste effluents cause no problems for septic tanks. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed this research report, and an expert in on-site waste treatment wrote October 1993 that he “does not believe that the conclusions of the earlier study would change since the chemistry and physics of soils have not. “ He also goes on to say that he knows this work to remain scientifically excellent“. It was at that time that numerous regulatory agencies were contemplating restrictions on the discharge of water softener wastes to private sewage disposal systems. This research was completed in the late 1970s. WQA has research reports by the University of Wisconsin and the National Sanitation Foundation on septic tanks and water softeners. Studies have shown that water softener regeneration wastes do not interfere with the septic tank system drain field soil percolation, but because of the polyvalent water hardness cations in the regeneration discharges improve soil percolation, particularly in fine-textured soils. It is not true that water softener regeneration discharges pose a problem to septic systems or to the leach field. Here are the answers to that question and the effects of using a water softener with a septic system.
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