Draining saltwater into a septic system

[mherman]

I lived in Alpharetta for 10yrs never had one problem with septic , drain pipe collapased on field side.That was only time it was pumped. I now live in Jasper have never pumped or have a problem for 18yrs. I do drain my salt water into it. Do not add any additives like ridex.

 

[acroholic]

I have a septic system and would never put waste saltwater down it, basically because I don't have to the way my tanks are set up.

You might compare putting saltwater in a septic system to doing the same with a salt based home water softening system. Here is an article discussing the effects:

 

[gmpolan]

Interesting, i had two different companies tell me saltwater in the septic tank was perfectly fine dependent on the volume. Ive been pumping it in there for over a year now with no issues.But i guess only time will tell...nice input bill.

 

[acroholic]

I based my decision to not put saltwater in my septic system on something I learned in history class when I was a kid. The Romans used to sow salt into the crop fields of conquered countries, effectively rendering them useless for agriculture. I took this to mean they were biologically dead, so I thought excessive salt is not good for biological activity as a whole. Some pools owners have a salt based system over a chlorine based system that keeps their pools water clean.

If you use Instant Ocean at an SG of 1.025, then every time you dump 5 gallons or so of water down your drain into your septic system, you are dumping three cups of salt mix as well. That just seems excessive to me.

I could be wrong.

 

[picoreefguy]

Dave you're right that people use salt over chlorine in pools to keep them clean but it's not the salt itself that does the cleaning the pool somehow (electrolysis I think but I'm not 100%) splits the molecule into sodium and chlorine and its the chlorine that does the cleaning and then recombined with the sodium to become salt again. I'm not sure how the whole process is accomplished I had it explained to me a couple years ago but have forgotten since

 

[ripped tide]

Salt is an ionic bond. In the presence of a hydrogen bond(water), ionic bonds are constantly breaking and reforming

 

[ichthyoid]

Here's how salt water chlorination works. It requires electrolysis (means 'electrically splitting') of both water and salt, then reforming as different chlorinated salts.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination</a>

FWIW-
If you rely on a guy that pumps out your septic tank for information, I suggest you consider the source.

If they were scientists, they wouldn't be pumping crap ;)
-jmo

 

[slayer]

I had my house built around my 300 gallon in wall tank. I had the builders place a drain right under my tank to drain out waste salt water straight in to my septic system. I ran this for 3 years before i had to move and never had any issues. The builder, plumber, home inspector never once said it would be an issue either.. just my 2 cents..

 

[rdnelson]

ichthyoid;831114 wrote: Here's how salt water chlorination works. It requires electrolysis (means 'electrically splitting') of both water and salt, then reforming as different chlorinated salts.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination</a>

FWIW-
If you rely on a guy that pumps out your septic tank for information, I suggest you consider the source.

If they were scientists, they wouldn't be pumping crap ;)
-jmo[/QUOTE]


Bill I love your intellect and what your bring to this forum but to me, that is not a very fare statement. To say that someone who specializes in an industry is not knowledgeable because that industry is distasteful to some is a little demeaning. I would bet that to many, an electrician is just someone who twists wires and changes lamps. But I think you know the amount of knowledge that goes into being a qualified electrician.

 

[frantz]

Considering the volume of water that goes into the system every day (flushing, showers (we hope), cooking, RODI waste, etc I would imagine 5 gal a day of salt water won't do much. No science behind this, just some ideas. All the other things you put down there are likely to be quite a bit harder to handle. Also the avg american eats almost 3500 grams of salt per day. That's a bit over 25 gallons of sea water if my math is right (3500 grams/35 gpl (seawater) = 100l / 3.8 = 26.3 gal If that math is right then I wouldn't be concerned at all. I realize the body absorbs a lot of this but its gotta go somewhere right? I'm also not a human biologist.....

 

[picoreefguy]

doug i dont think the avarage american eats 3500 grams a day cause 453.6 grams is a pound and i eat a lot of salt but i dont eat close to 8 pounds of it lol

 

[frantz]

yeah.. I hate the metric system. I missed the m in mg..... oh well, divide my math by 1000 or 100 or something (-=

 

[falos]

Acroholic;831077 wrote: I based my decision to not put saltwater in my septic system on something I learned in history class when I was a kid. The Romans used to sow salt into the crop fields of conquered countries, effectively rendering them useless for agriculture. I took this to mean they were biologically dead, so I thought excessive salt is not good for biological activity as a whole. Some pools owners have a salt based system over a chlorine based system that keeps their pools water clean.

If you use Instant Ocean at an SG of 1.025, then every time you dump 5 gallons or so of water down your drain into your septic system, you are dumping three cups of salt mix as well. That just seems excessive to me.

I could be wrong.

got to love early chemical war fare.i drain my tank in to a hole in the wall that leads to a pipe that takes the waste out to the back of my yard by a hose
i cant stand fixing stuff cus of assfault

 

[ichthyoid]

rdnelson99;831138 wrote: Bill I love your intellect and what your bring to this forum but to me, that is not a very fare statement. To say that someone who specializes in an industry is not knowledgeable because that industry is distasteful to some is a little demeaning. I would bet that to many, an electrician is just someone who twists wires and changes lamps. But I think you know the amount of knowledge that goes into being a qualified electrician.

I didn't mean to sound 'elitist' here Rich.

It's a little irritating when I know the subject matter, render sound advice in a noble attempt to help others and it's flatly refuted.

No facts, other than-
'nothing's happened yet' (?)...
'Everyone else says its ok' (?)...

You are right. I was coarse and small minded, and apologize.

I keep forgetting that I make far more by correcting mistakes, than from preventing them.

 

[falos]

ichthyoid;831235 wrote: I didn't mean to sound 'elitist' here Rich.

It's a little irritating when I know the subject matter, render sound advice in a noble attempt to help others and it's flatly refuted.

No facts, other than-
'nothing's happened yet' (?)...
'Everyone else says its ok' (?)...

You are right. I was coarse and small minded, and apologize.

I keep forgetting that I make far more by correcting mistakes, than from preventing them.

+1 if it wasn't for mistakes there wouldnt be repair business

 

[ralph atl]

ichthyoid;830955 wrote: The sodium can cause the clay in the septic system drain field to 'block' up.

Better if you don't do it. Repair will set you back $3-5k.

By the time you notice a problem, it's too late.

Water softeners will do the same thing.

I strongly urge you not do this.

mysterybox;830945 wrote: it depends upon the system, but yes, eventually it could "overwhelm" the system.

ichthyoid;830968 wrote: Yep white vinegar will do. Mix a teaspoon of Mrs. Wages with a glass of vinegar to make calcium acetate and add weekly.

Last time I had my tank pumped (10 years ago) the guy told me 'you don't need to pump your tank every year'. We had then been in the house 10 years, with 4 people (3 of them women

I guess it's due again.

Picoreefguy;830986 wrote: I'm with bill on this one I wouldn't drain it into your septic tank. I'd be worried about all that salt building up think about it most of us go through a bucket of salt every 3 to 6 months for a small system and the only place it has to go is your leach field and on top of blocking it off all that salt can't be good for plants. imagine dumping a bucket of salt on your garden every 3 to 6 months it probably wouldn't make your plants very happy

Acroholic;831055 wrote: I have a septic system and would never put waste saltwater down it, basically because I don't have to the way my tanks are set up.

You might compare putting saltwater in a septic system to doing the same with a salt based home water softening system. Here is an article discussing the effects:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/209315-do-salt-based-water-softener-systems-harm-home-septic-systems/">http://www.livestrong.com/article/209315-do-salt-based-water-softener-systems-harm-home-septic-systems/</a>[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=][B]Acroholic;831077 wrote:[/B] I based my decision to not put saltwater in my septic system on something I learned in history class when I was a kid. The Romans used to sow salt into the crop fields of conquered countries, effectively rendering them useless for agriculture. I took this to mean they were biologically dead, so I thought excessive salt is not good for biological activity as a whole. Some pools owners have a salt based system over a chlorine based system that keeps their pools water clean.

If you use Instant Ocean at an SG of 1.025, then every time you dump 5 gallons or so of water down your drain into your septic system, you are dumping three cups of salt mix as well. That just seems excessive to me.

I could be wrong.[/QUOTE]



Ok, I'm thinking NOT!

not a good idea!:doh:

 

[heathlindner25]

ichthyoid;831235 wrote: I didn't mean to sound 'elitist' here Rich.

It's a little irritating when I know the subject matter, render sound advice in a noble attempt to help others and it's flatly refuted.

No facts, other than-
'nothing's happened yet' (?)...
'Everyone else says its ok' (?)...

You are right. I was coarse and small minded, and apologize.

I keep forgetting that I make far more by correcting mistakes, than from preventing them.

I took account for your knowledge on the subject and decided not to throw my waste water in my septic, thanks for the info.

 

[ripped tide]

heathlindner25;831315 wrote: I took account for your knowledge on the subject and decided not to throw my waste water in my septic, thanks for the info.

+1, where should waste water be properly disposed? In the creek that runs through my back yard? give the local fish a little brackish spa day?

 

[heathlindner25]

Ripped Tide;831357 wrote: +1, where should waste water be properly disposed? In the creek that runs through my back yard? give the local fish a little brackish spa day?

I'm going to dump mind out of the street, or maybe on the deck boards in the backyard.

 

[mc524]

I dump my salt water on top of my pine straw. Keeps the weeds under control. I have a septic too, which I have allowed salt water to enter in small amounts.

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