Waste Water question

jbarnaby · 05/16/2009, 08:10 AM

I have been keeping fish tanks for many years, but they have been all fresh water. Well I want to switch them now, but I have a question that has been rattling in the back of my mind. I know when I did water changes in fresh water I just dumped the waste water down the drain, and it would not hurt my septic system, but now with salt water, is this still a good idea?? Will it hurt the septic system? Now granted I plan on only doing partial water changes every week on a 200g so will 20g of saltwater a week hurt a septic system? Im thinking in the big scheme of things it wont but would like to hear from others as well...

Thx,
Jeff

jhildebrand · 05/16/2009, 08:51 AM

At my old place with septic I did large water changes on my 150 regularly with no detrimental effect. I also checked with a local guy at a treatment plant and was told not to worry.

starfish 831 · 05/16/2009, 09:46 AM

Good question. I replaced my leach field a few years back. Quite costly. I dont want to do that again anytime soon. I'm looking into and RO/DI system and thinking about diverting the waiste water to the garden insted of the septic.

1blackchicken · 05/16/2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by starfish 831
Good question. I replaced my leach field a few years back. Quite costly. I dont want to do that again anytime soon. I'm looking into and RO/DI system and thinking about diverting the waiste water to the garden insted of the septic.

Are you talking about filtering it before you dump it into the garden? If you dont and you just put salt water it will kill the plants.

Also you should be fine with putting it down the septic tank.

jbarnaby · 05/16/2009, 03:56 PM

Thx for all the great information, it was just something I was thinking about. Now I would assume the waste water from an RODI system would be fine to put down the septic as well right? I was just worried about the salinity of the water maybe killing the bacteria in the septic.

Now another question, if it is ok to put down to the septic, would it be ok to put to the lawn? Not necessilarily a garden with flowers that would be more delicate, but a lawn that would hopefully be a little more hardy. And if I can, is there any specific kind of grass that would be more tolerant of accepting this type of salty waste water??

Thx again....

1blackchicken · 05/16/2009, 11:39 PM

No the salt will kill even a lawn. Even if it did not at first it would over time since the salt would be building up. It would be very difficult if not impossible to get it regrowing again once you get the salt in the soil as well. It would be better just to put it down the drain. As a plumber I went to fix a job once where some one has a water softener put in before the sprinkler system and it totally killed all their plants and that water has barely any salt in it. No worth the risk in my opinion.

starfish 831 · 05/17/2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1blackchicken
Are you talking about filtering it before you dump it into the garden? If you dont and you just put salt water it will kill the plants.

Also you should be fine with putting it down the septic tank.

What I was thinking was there's gonna be alot of waisted H20 from the RO and I could reuse it maybe.??

tipmoff · 05/17/2009, 08:34 AM

You can't reuse the waste water from a saltwater tank as stated above... it will kill any plants or grass it leaches into.

mfinn · 05/17/2009, 09:38 AM

I've been dumping saltwater into my septic system for 16 years now and there has been no problems.
You won't having any problems with the waste water from a ro/di in the septic system either.
You can use the waste water from your ro/di to water the lawn outdoor plants and even use it in a washing machine.

1blackchicken · 05/17/2009, 09:46 AM

Yeah the waste water from the R.O. unit can be used for watering and such just not the saltwater. I know that they are coming out with a new plumbing system that uses waste water to flush you toilets. Just an idea. They are expensive and not well designed but things seem to be moving toward conserving water so im sure that more of these types of things will be coming out.

starfish 831 · 05/18/2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1blackchicken
Yeah the waste water from the R.O. unit can be used for watering and such just not the saltwater. I know that they are coming out with a new plumbing system that uses waste water to flush you toilets. Just an idea. They are expensive and not well designed but things seem to be moving toward conserving water so im sure that more of these types of things will be coming out.

With the 4 year drout and the salt water intrusion in the water basin in our area, I was just thinking recycle/reuse if I can. I like the toilet idea. Anyone got any ideas on how to make gardening with r/o waiste water pretty easy?

05/16/2009, 08:10 AM	#1
jbarnaby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Posts: 45	Waste Water question I have been keeping fish tanks for many years, but they have been all fresh water. Well I want to switch them now, but I have a question that has been rattling in the back of my mind. I know when I did water changes in fresh water I just dumped the waste water down the drain, and it would not hurt my septic system, but now with salt water, is this still a good idea?? Will it hurt the septic system? Now granted I plan on only doing partial water changes every week on a 200g so will 20g of saltwater a week hurt a septic system? Im thinking in the big scheme of things it wont but would like to hear from others as well... Thx, Jeff

05/16/2009, 08:51 AM	#2
jhildebrand Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Bay Posts: 782	At my old place with septic I did large water changes on my 150 regularly with no detrimental effect. I also checked with a local guy at a treatment plant and was told not to worry. __________________ 1000 gallons of liability Current Tank Info: 1000 gallon total system volume - 260g mixed reef - Fish room: 270g fiberglass grow out tank, 150g LPS cube, 150g sump, 150g 'fuge, remote DSB frag tub + 14g nano

05/17/2009, 08:34 AM	#8
tipmoff Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 430	You can't reuse the waste water from a saltwater tank as stated above... it will kill any plants or grass it leaches into. __________________ "When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick. ." Member T.B.R.C. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

05/17/2009, 09:38 AM	#9
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I've been dumping saltwater into my septic system for 16 years now and there has been no problems. You won't having any problems with the waste water from a ro/di in the septic system either. You can use the waste water from your ro/di to water the lawn outdoor plants and even use it in a washing machine. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

05/16/2009, 09:46 AM	#3
starfish 831 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: monterey county Posts: 15	Good question. I replaced my leach field a few years back. Quite costly. I dont want to do that again anytime soon. I'm looking into and RO/DI system and thinking about diverting the waiste water to the garden insted of the septic.

05/16/2009, 03:56 PM	#5
jbarnaby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Posts: 45	Thx for all the great information, it was just something I was thinking about. Now I would assume the waste water from an RODI system would be fine to put down the septic as well right? I was just worried about the salinity of the water maybe killing the bacteria in the septic. Now another question, if it is ok to put down to the septic, would it be ok to put to the lawn? Not necessilarily a garden with flowers that would be more delicate, but a lawn that would hopefully be a little more hardy. And if I can, is there any specific kind of grass that would be more tolerant of accepting this type of salty waste water?? Thx again....

05/16/2009, 11:39 PM	#6
1blackchicken Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marina, Ca. Posts: 232	No the salt will kill even a lawn. Even if it did not at first it would over time since the salt would be building up. It would be very difficult if not impossible to get it regrowing again once you get the salt in the soil as well. It would be better just to put it down the drain. As a plumber I went to fix a job once where some one has a water softener put in before the sprinkler system and it totally killed all their plants and that water has barely any salt in it. No worth the risk in my opinion.

05/17/2009, 09:46 AM	#10
1blackchicken Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marina, Ca. Posts: 232	Yeah the waste water from the R.O. unit can be used for watering and such just not the saltwater. I know that they are coming out with a new plumbing system that uses waste water to flush you toilets. Just an idea. They are expensive and not well designed but things seem to be moving toward conserving water so im sure that more of these types of things will be coming out.