Knowledgebase
Regenerating a water softener into your septic system #347074
Asked July 26, 2016, 10:35 PM EDT
I wasn't able to find any guidelines for this on your website or at any other reliable sites, so I'm hoping you have the answer. I read the manual that came with the water softener, and it doesn't say one way or the other. Thanks for your help!
Gratiot County Michigan
Expert Response
Thank you for your inquiry.
The EPA publication, "A Homeowners’ Guide to Septic Systems" (Pg. 8) recommends not discharging water softener discharge into your septic system.
However, there is not complete agreement on the exact reason why this should be done, as evidenced by the two following documents. I have not found anything that points to an issue being related to the wastewater causing corrosion of the septic tank. Rather, there are differing opinions on whether the softener water changes the biology of the bacteria inside the tank, thus negatively impacting its ability to process wastewater effectively. Other reasons include issues that occur when the partially treated wastewater reaches the drainfield. One publication that can give you more on both sides of this is:
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/watershed/Pages/GWSofteners.aspx
One reason to definitely take under consideration is that a water softening systems will generate unnecessary water into the septic system. In general, the idea is to minimize the amount of water going into the system so as not to overload the system or make it work harder than it needs to, with the end goal being that you want the system to last as long as it can and be able to work optimally in treating your wastewater in a way that keeps you and your family safe. Putting extra water, in this case from the water softener, simply adds water to the system that does not need to go in. Contact your county or regional health department to find out options for the softener water. One way is to route the water to a dry well.
However, it is best to contact your health department to find out the best options for your area. The health department serving your county is the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, and their web site is:
For more information about managing your septic system, you can visit:
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/program/info/septic_system_education
