Ro/di plumbing q's?

swbeginner · 10/30/2008, 05:07 PM

So I'm hooking up a bulk reef supply ro/di for drinking and aquarium water. I want to hook it up after my water softener, which I know how to do, but I don't know where to put the waste water??? Where can it go? The waste water from the softener goes all the way across the garage and up to the clothes washer drain. So, where can the waste water go?

6 man reef · 10/30/2008, 05:29 PM

I think you would want it on the street side of the softener. The residual of salts in the water softener will prematurely clog the RO cartridge. The waste water from the RODI can be collected for watering plants or collected for laundry loads. Most folks send it down the sink drain or into the sump pump well.

swbeginner · 10/30/2008, 05:33 PM

I've heard the softener is good??? need a second opinion!!!

barbra · 10/30/2008, 05:59 PM

Avoid the softener, 6 man is correct.

swbeginner · 10/30/2008, 06:28 PM

I won't avoid the softener. IT is going under my sink, so I can't plus I'm almost positive that the softener will help considering my well water is almost solid it's so hard.

barbra · 10/30/2008, 06:33 PM

Well, you've answered your own question then. If there is only 1 solution to the drain water then the choice is clear.

swbeginner · 10/30/2008, 07:29 PM

yeah, I wasn't sure then, but now I feel that this is best. Thanks.

WaterKeeper · 10/30/2008, 08:06 PM

Why avoid the softener? Home softeners just substitute sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ions for the most part. Sodium doesn't form hardwater scales while Ca and Mg do. The soft water is better for an RO membrane.

Anyhow, no matter if after or before the softener you need a drain. It need not be large as the throughput of the unit is not all that great. Three eight inch Flexible tubing will usually do.

Playa-1 · 10/31/2008, 12:05 AM

I agree with WaterKeeper, Your much better off using softened water to plumb the RO/DI filter. It will preserve the membrane and the DI resin. The salt solution is just used to recharge the softener resin and then it is back-washed down the drain.

I'm assuming that we are talking about the waste water for the RO/DI unit and not the Water softener waste water. The RO discharge water can be used for anything you want. You can use it to water the roses, wash the car, CoolAid or ice cubes. It's all good. The RO reject water in your case will have a slightly higher tds then the soft water going into the RO/DI unit. You can store it in a rubbermaid trash can, put it down the drain or run it straight to the garden. It's all up to you.

AZDesertRat · 10/31/2008, 07:30 AM

RO membranes love water softeners! The membrane manufacturers recommend them in fact.
You want the waste line to flow by gravity unobstructed so it will need to go into a sewer drain below the level of the RO unit. Another option would be into a barrel or bucket but they generate a lot of waste and I would be afraid of overflowing something like that. You make 20 gallons you waste 80 gallons so a single session making water would overflow a 55 gallon drum.

Dave & Monica · 10/31/2008, 07:47 AM

For the wastewater, I have a T and in the non winter months, I have it run outside to water our garden. In winter, it goes down the drain.

swbeginner · 10/31/2008, 04:06 PM

Thanks for help on the softener issue. I actually decided on an insink setup.

10/30/2008, 05:07 PM	#1
swbeginner Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 227	Ro/di plumbing q's? So I'm hooking up a bulk reef supply ro/di for drinking and aquarium water. I want to hook it up after my water softener, which I know how to do, but I don't know where to put the waste water??? Where can it go? The waste water from the softener goes all the way across the garage and up to the clothes washer drain. So, where can the waste water go?

10/30/2008, 08:06 PM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Why avoid the softener? Home softeners just substitute sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ions for the most part. Sodium doesn't form hardwater scales while Ca and Mg do. The soft water is better for an RO membrane. Anyhow, no matter if after or before the softener you need a drain. It need not be large as the throughput of the unit is not all that great. Three eight inch Flexible tubing will usually do. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/31/2008, 12:05 AM	#9
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Re: Ro/di plumbing q's? I agree with WaterKeeper, Your much better off using softened water to plumb the RO/DI filter. It will preserve the membrane and the DI resin. The salt solution is just used to recharge the softener resin and then it is back-washed down the drain. I'm assuming that we are talking about the waste water for the RO/DI unit and not the Water softener waste water. The RO discharge water can be used for anything you want. You can use it to water the roses, wash the car, CoolAid or ice cubes. It's all good. The RO reject water in your case will have a slightly higher tds then the soft water going into the RO/DI unit. You can store it in a rubbermaid trash can, put it down the drain or run it straight to the garden. It's all up to you.

10/30/2008, 05:29 PM	#2
6 man reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jersey Posts: 140	I think you would want it on the street side of the softener. The residual of salts in the water softener will prematurely clog the RO cartridge. The waste water from the RODI can be collected for watering plants or collected for laundry loads. Most folks send it down the sink drain or into the sump pump well.

10/30/2008, 05:33 PM	#3
swbeginner Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 227	I've heard the softener is good??? need a second opinion!!!

10/30/2008, 05:59 PM	#4
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	Avoid the softener, 6 man is correct.

10/30/2008, 06:28 PM	#5
swbeginner Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 227	I won't avoid the softener. IT is going under my sink, so I can't plus I'm almost positive that the softener will help considering my well water is almost solid it's so hard.

10/30/2008, 06:33 PM	#6
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	Well, you've answered your own question then. If there is only 1 solution to the drain water then the choice is clear.

10/30/2008, 07:29 PM	#7
swbeginner Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 227	yeah, I wasn't sure then, but now I feel that this is best. Thanks.

10/31/2008, 07:30 AM	#10
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	RO membranes love water softeners! The membrane manufacturers recommend them in fact. You want the waste line to flow by gravity unobstructed so it will need to go into a sewer drain below the level of the RO unit. Another option would be into a barrel or bucket but they generate a lot of waste and I would be afraid of overflowing something like that. You make 20 gallons you waste 80 gallons so a single session making water would overflow a 55 gallon drum.

10/31/2008, 07:47 AM	#11
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	For the wastewater, I have a T and in the non winter months, I have it run outside to water our garden. In winter, it goes down the drain.

10/31/2008, 04:06 PM	#12
swbeginner Moved On Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 227	Thanks for help on the softener issue. I actually decided on an insink setup.