Dumping salt water into septic, don't want to ruin well water

warrenmichaels · 12/16/2018, 02:32 PM

I live in a house on a mild hill which slopes from the front to the house to the back. I have no idea what sort of subterranean slopes there are, or what the subterranean geology is like, however. In the front, there is a well which is drilled, I think, to several hundred feet. In the back there is a septic field. I'm setting up a 90 gal tank. With water changes, this comes out to my emptying about 130 lbs of salt onto the property per year.

I had the groundwater tested, and NaCl is extremely low, and I'd like to keep it that way. Are any of you in a similar situation? If I empty the saltwater down the drain, do you think I'd ruin my groundwater?

Thanks

bosshog · 12/16/2018, 03:13 PM

It will be fine. A much larger concern is the other substances and life in the effluent. If you’re that concerned about the salt, dumpyour water change buckets on the driveway or other non crop area.

Tripod1404 · 12/17/2018, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrenmichaels

I live in a house on a mild hill which slopes from the front to the house to the back. I have no idea what sort of subterranean slopes there are, or what the subterranean geology is like, however. In the front, there is a well which is drilled, I think, to several hundred feet. In the back there is a septic field. I'm setting up a 90 gal tank. With water changes, this comes out to my emptying about 130 lbs of salt onto the property per year.

I had the groundwater tested, and NaCl is extremely low, and I'd like to keep it that way. Are any of you in a similar situation? If I empty the saltwater down the drain, do you think I'd ruin my groundwater?

Thanks

I wouldn't worry. You probably dump a lot more than 130lbs of fresh water a day. An average house hold use 80-100 gallons of water a day, which is 660 to 830 lbs of water. Amount of salt that goes in with that much of water is very small.

Kevin Guthrie · 12/17/2018, 05:00 PM

Shoot, my water softener goes thru at least 40 lbs of salt a month. There might be a small impact on the lifespan of the drain field from calcium, but the salt won't be an issue.

Joe0813 · 12/17/2018, 06:35 PM

Ive read up on this a lot since moving to a town with septic, and the majority of info I read is not to dump saltwater or put the drain line to your RO unit into the septic

EMeyer · 12/18/2018, 07:48 AM

If you have water flow going from your septic to your well water you have more urgent problems than your aquarium

Not a good idea to put large amounts of salt into a septic field, although if you do it during or following heavy rains its unlikely to cause any problems.

I like pouring SW on my long dirt/gravel driveway. Put the plant killing properties to good use.

ca1ore · 12/18/2018, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe0813

Ive read up on this a lot since moving to a town with septic, and the majority of info I read is not to dump saltwater or put the drain line to your RO unit into the septic

I think that’s mostly about the potential for the salt to accelerate corrosion of the concrete tank. I’ve been putting old SW into mine for close to 20 years without issue (at least that’s what my septic guy says). My well is close to 400 feet deep - I figure the water I get from it hasn’t seen the light of day for a very long time.

warrenmichaels · 12/18/2018, 01:28 PM

This gives me peace of mind. Thanks.

nikon187 · 12/20/2018, 06:50 PM

saltwater can and will kill a septic field if long enough . pour down the toilet.

water is wet · 12/20/2018, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikon187

saltwater can and will kill a septic field if long enough . pour down the toilet.

That doesn't makes any sense. If it's poured down the toilet where do you think it'll go?

Jason9488 · 12/20/2018, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Guthrie

Shoot, my water softener goes thru at least 40 lbs of salt a month. There might be a small impact on the lifespan of the drain field from calcium, but the salt won't be an issue.

Sounds like you need a new water softener.

nikon187 · 12/22/2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by water is wet

That doesn't makes any sense. If it's poured down the toilet where do you think it'll go?

to the water treatment plant as we dont have septic tanks here.

EMeyer · 12/23/2018, 08:57 AM

Saltwater is bad for the bacteria in septic tanks, bad for the bacteria in water treatment plants, and bad for the plants and bacteria in septic fields.

But during a rain, there is a constant flow of water into the septic field and you could get away with it.

I have no idea what people in cities should do (other than move

) I suspect storm drains are the best bet.

Joe0813 · 12/23/2018, 11:08 AM

When I lived in my old house we had city sewage. I just dumped all the saltwater down the toilet. Now in this house I dump it all into the woods

JWClark · 12/24/2018, 05:48 AM

This is one of my concerns as we start to build the retirement farm house. I've thought about running waste water to an evaporation tank and reclaiming the salt. Anyone ever use to make salt licks/supplements for livestock?

Note, my concern is for the septic system--not ruining the well water. Your well water comes from an aquifer deep underground (164ft for mine) and it is likely that the surface water on your property does not make it into that aquifer--at least at the point where you draw water (unless the top barrier rock layer is fragmented in some way).

warrenmichaels · 12/24/2018, 10:32 PM

That's good to hear regarding surface water not making it to the well. I'd considered setting up evaporation tanks as well. A few points from the research I did:

In most places in North America, in the Summer, as a rule of thumb, expect 0.5" vertical inches of evaporation per day.

You can boil away 400-800 gallons of water by burning a cord of wood, depending on efficiency.

If you freeze saltwater, at higher temperatures at least, you'll get a layer of freshwater on top, and saltier water below.

I live in the Northeast. Around here, plants are better suited to acidic soils. High pH water might not be good for them. You might want to neutralize pH.

12/16/2018, 02:32 PM	#1
warrenmichaels Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 63	Dumping salt water into septic, don't want to ruin well water I live in a house on a mild hill which slopes from the front to the house to the back. I have no idea what sort of subterranean slopes there are, or what the subterranean geology is like, however. In the front, there is a well which is drilled, I think, to several hundred feet. In the back there is a septic field. I'm setting up a 90 gal tank. With water changes, this comes out to my emptying about 130 lbs of salt onto the property per year. I had the groundwater tested, and NaCl is extremely low, and I'd like to keep it that way. Are any of you in a similar situation? If I empty the saltwater down the drain, do you think I'd ruin my groundwater? Thanks

12/17/2018, 06:35 PM	#5
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Ive read up on this a lot since moving to a town with septic, and the majority of info I read is not to dump saltwater or put the drain line to your RO unit into the septic __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

12/20/2018, 06:50 PM	#9
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	saltwater can and will kill a septic field if long enough . pour down the toilet. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

12/23/2018, 11:08 AM	#14
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	When I lived in my old house we had city sewage. I just dumped all the saltwater down the toilet. Now in this house I dump it all into the woods __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

12/24/2018, 05:48 AM	#15
JWClark Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MD Posts: 576	This is one of my concerns as we start to build the retirement farm house. I've thought about running waste water to an evaporation tank and reclaiming the salt. Anyone ever use to make salt licks/supplements for livestock? Note, my concern is for the septic system--not ruining the well water. Your well water comes from an aquifer deep underground (164ft for mine) and it is likely that the surface water on your property does not make it into that aquifer--at least at the point where you draw water (unless the top barrier rock layer is fragmented in some way). __________________ Back after a 13yr hiatus--much to my wife's dismay. Though she sure loves looking at the tank and feeding the fish! Current Tank Info: Reefer 450 seed tank for the retirement 315gal Reef Savvy build.

12/16/2018, 03:13 PM	#2
bosshog Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 61	It will be fine. A much larger concern is the other substances and life in the effluent. If you’re that concerned about the salt, dumpyour water change buckets on the driveway or other non crop area.

12/17/2018, 05:00 PM	#4
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Shoot, my water softener goes thru at least 40 lbs of salt a month. There might be a small impact on the lifespan of the drain field from calcium, but the salt won't be an issue.

12/18/2018, 07:48 AM	#6
EMeyer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 173	If you have water flow going from your septic to your well water you have more urgent problems than your aquarium Not a good idea to put large amounts of salt into a septic field, although if you do it during or following heavy rains its unlikely to cause any problems. I like pouring SW on my long dirt/gravel driveway. Put the plant killing properties to good use.

12/18/2018, 01:28 PM	#8
warrenmichaels Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 63	This gives me peace of mind. Thanks.

12/23/2018, 08:57 AM	#13
EMeyer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 173	Saltwater is bad for the bacteria in septic tanks, bad for the bacteria in water treatment plants, and bad for the plants and bacteria in septic fields. But during a rain, there is a constant flow of water into the septic field and you could get away with it. I have no idea what people in cities should do (other than move ) I suspect storm drains are the best bet.

12/24/2018, 10:32 PM	#16
warrenmichaels Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 63	That's good to hear regarding surface water not making it to the well. I'd considered setting up evaporation tanks as well. A few points from the research I did: In most places in North America, in the Summer, as a rule of thumb, expect 0.5" vertical inches of evaporation per day. You can boil away 400-800 gallons of water by burning a cord of wood, depending on efficiency. If you freeze saltwater, at higher temperatures at least, you'll get a layer of freshwater on top, and saltier water below. I live in the Northeast. Around here, plants are better suited to acidic soils. High pH water might not be good for them. You might want to neutralize pH.