Saltwater down Septic? Safe?

flyhigh123 · 01/15/2014, 04:38 PM

Is it safe to put saltwater down a septic system?

I was thinking of doing water changes and it would be easier for me to dump around 40 gallons of water every 2 weeks down my septic then elsewhere...

anyone know if that kills the bacteria to help break down the other stuff?

duperdave · 01/15/2014, 04:42 PM

hard to say but I'd worry more about plumbing fittings depending on how old your house is.I dump mine in the driveway to kill weeds.

Nina51 · 01/15/2014, 04:57 PM

i dump mine out the front door onto the deck. it kills the weeds under there. i have a septic, too, and i wouldn't dump it down there.

phillrodrigo · 01/15/2014, 05:23 PM

I wouldnt think there would be a issue. Theres always water going down so it wont have salt on it long. Drains are pitched or are supposed to be so it goes right out to the septic.

disc1 · 01/15/2014, 05:23 PM

I've seen compelling arguments both ways. To me it seems like if the septic system is big enough and the amount of water small enough then it all gets diluted out and the salt there makes no more difference than anything else that goes down the sink.

SVTour · 01/15/2014, 06:25 PM

I've been dumping 45 gallons down drain every two or three weeks since 2003. Hasn't killed the system yet.

Way I see it...it's more bacteria for the system. Now, whether that's right or wrong I don't know, but that's the story I'm sticking with

Yogre · 01/15/2014, 06:30 PM

If you have a water softener you'll get a lot more salt in your system than you'd get from your tank unless you have a really big tank.

Most homes in my neighborhood have softeners, and all are on well and septic. I'm not aware of anyone having issues, and some of the homes are 20 years old.

FWIW.

ChrisPrusha · 01/15/2014, 07:35 PM

I have been doing it since 1999, without any problems. Plenty of salt in your pee, too.

thegrun · 01/15/2014, 08:04 PM

You do need to worry about the leach lines long term (if you have them) as the salt will eventually render the soil barren.

jbmills78 · 01/15/2014, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

You do need to worry about the leach lines long term (if you have them) as the salt will eventually render the soil barren.

I've also wondered how the salt would effect an aerobic system, where the effluent is sprayed out onto the lawn.

I'm going to tag along!

~J

mfinn · 01/15/2014, 08:26 PM

Been dumping 70+ gallons every 2 weeks, in my septic system for 22 years and it still works fine and the grass is still growing.

sanababit · 01/15/2014, 08:33 PM

I have been dumping salt water for about 8+ years, nothing has happened, i own a water softener too, when they regenerate or clean themselves they use NaCl (salt) and this water goes down the drain too, so no worries my friend, unless your water district prohibits the disposal of salt down the drain, they might state that the salt might interact with their sewage plant, i say is BS

Sana

dkeller_nc · 01/16/2014, 08:52 AM

Whether or not this is eventually going to mess up your field lines may depend greatly on where you live. In the East, there's enough rain and water traveling through the soil to where salt buildup would be a non-issue except for huge saltwater tank operations.

In the West, it may be dry enough to the point where adding the salt for 20 gallon - 40 gallons of water changes a month might buildup over time.

thegrun · 01/16/2014, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

Whether or not this is eventually going to mess up your field lines may depend greatly on where you live. In the East, there's enough rain and water traveling through the soil to where salt buildup would be a non-issue except for huge saltwater tank operations.

In the West, it may be dry enough to the point where adding the salt for 20 gallon - 40 gallons of water changes a month might buildup over time.

Good point. We don't get a lot of rainfall here, but in areas with a lot of rain it wouldn't matter.

01/15/2014, 04:38 PM	#1
flyhigh123 funky member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights (605 and 60 fwy) Posts: 1,893	Saltwater down Septic? Safe? Is it safe to put saltwater down a septic system? I was thinking of doing water changes and it would be easier for me to dump around 40 gallons of water every 2 weeks down my septic then elsewhere... anyone know if that kills the bacteria to help break down the other stuff?

01/15/2014, 04:42 PM	#2
duperdave Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: fredericksburg, VA Posts: 283	hard to say but I'd worry more about plumbing fittings depending on how old your house is.I dump mine in the driveway to kill weeds. __________________ 55 gal.dt 20gal.sump.aquaeruousa 135 protien skimmer ,hydor 725 gph return,2-hydor 600 gph , and1 tunze 6045 mechanically adjustable circulating pumps, 65 lb liverock ,2AI hydra lights ,jbj ato Sq

01/15/2014, 04:57 PM	#3
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	i dump mine out the front door onto the deck. it kills the weeds under there. i have a septic, too, and i wouldn't dump it down there. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

01/15/2014, 05:23 PM	#5
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	I've seen compelling arguments both ways. To me it seems like if the septic system is big enough and the amount of water small enough then it all gets diluted out and the salt there makes no more difference than anything else that goes down the sink. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

01/15/2014, 06:25 PM	#6
SVTour Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,115	I've been dumping 45 gallons down drain every two or three weeks since 2003. Hasn't killed the system yet. Way I see it...it's more bacteria for the system. Now, whether that's right or wrong I don't know, but that's the story I'm sticking with __________________ If you ever drop your keys into molten lava, let 'em go...cause man, they're gone. Current Tank Info: 220gal RR in wall w/ 90gal sump/fuge, 39 gallon QT, 2 X 45 gallon salt mixing station, Full LED lighting, RKE w/APC Tunze and MLC

01/15/2014, 05:23 PM	#4
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	I wouldnt think there would be a issue. Theres always water going down so it wont have salt on it long. Drains are pitched or are supposed to be so it goes right out to the septic.

01/15/2014, 06:30 PM	#7
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	If you have a water softener you'll get a lot more salt in your system than you'd get from your tank unless you have a really big tank. Most homes in my neighborhood have softeners, and all are on well and septic. I'm not aware of anyone having issues, and some of the homes are 20 years old. FWIW. __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

01/15/2014, 07:35 PM	#8
ChrisPrusha Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: WI Posts: 709	I have been doing it since 1999, without any problems. Plenty of salt in your pee, too. __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 180g reef, 20g nano

01/15/2014, 08:04 PM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You do need to worry about the leach lines long term (if you have them) as the salt will eventually render the soil barren.

01/15/2014, 08:26 PM	#11
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	Been dumping 70+ gallons every 2 weeks, in my septic system for 22 years and it still works fine and the grass is still growing. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

01/15/2014, 08:33 PM	#12
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	I have been dumping salt water for about 8+ years, nothing has happened, i own a water softener too, when they regenerate or clean themselves they use NaCl (salt) and this water goes down the drain too, so no worries my friend, unless your water district prohibits the disposal of salt down the drain, they might state that the salt might interact with their sewage plant, i say is BS Sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

01/16/2014, 08:52 AM	#13
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Whether or not this is eventually going to mess up your field lines may depend greatly on where you live. In the East, there's enough rain and water traveling through the soil to where salt buildup would be a non-issue except for huge saltwater tank operations. In the West, it may be dry enough to the point where adding the salt for 20 gallon - 40 gallons of water changes a month might buildup over time.