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The Effect of Water Softener Backwash Brine in Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Eleventh Individual and Small Community Sewage Systems Conference Proceedings, 20-24 October 2007, Warwick, Rhode Island 701P1107cd.(doi:10.13031/2013.24025)Authors: Mark Gross, Terry Bounds
Keywords: Water softener, backwash brine, septic tanks
Water softeners are backwashed with sodium chloride solutions, which may be detrimental to onsite wastewater treatment systems. Several authors have shown adverse effects of sodium and sodium chloride on wastewater treatment processes including proper functioning of the septic tank, inhibitory effects upon the biochemical treatment processes and the hydraulic conductivity in the soil dispersal component. Although no adverse effects were observed with the softened water, the backwash brine has been shown to cause deterioration in performance of the wastewater treatment system.
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