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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.