Saltwater in a septic system

[halmus]

This might be a stupid question, but we are considering buying a house west of Golden. Up to this point, we've always been on a public sewer system and we just dumped the waste saltwater down the drain.

Is it a problem, long term, dumping waste saltwater down the drain when you're on your own septic system? I'm imagining a buildup of salt in the surrounding ground over time. Sure, there's probably some salt already there. I'm not a geologist. I'm just worried that we might negatively impact the ground, vegetation, or drinking water over time since we'd also be on our own well.

The well also brings up another water issue. I don't want to waste fresh water and I know you can get RO/DI systems that are more efficient, but are there any other tricks to conserving water? Or, if I dump my waste down the septic, can I assume it will just make it back to the well to be used again? I am new to CO and don't know how deep the well typically is in a place like Genesee.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[zombie]

Not sure about the saltwater, but you can always use the waste water to water you lawn/garden and it makes for a great source of drinking water since it gets rid of most of the stuff you dont want before it ever reaches the ro but doesnt get rid of all the vitamins and electrolytes.

 

[jahmic]

I have heard/been told that salt water going to the septic isn't an issue. No real data or professional knowledge to back that up tho. I change 20g per week and the volume seems like it wouldn't be enough to cause issues...but I can't say for sure.

8 months out of the year I recycle my waste RO water to water the garden...in the winter it gets dumped due to the temps...although I use it for hand washing stuff on occasion.

Please don't drink your waste water. After going through the carbon block chlorines have been removed....which means there is a good opportunity for bacteria to thrive on your RO membrane. That bacteria is then potentially introduced into your waste water. There's a reason why home RO filtration systems include either a re-chlorinator or UV after the membrane...

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I recently upgraded my RODI system with the Bulk Reef Supply 150 GPD upgrade kit. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-150-gpd-water-saver-upgrade-kit.html it reduces waste water by 50%. I've always captured the waste water in a 40 gallon bucket. In the summer I use the waste water to fill a water fountain in the yard, and in the winter months I have to let it go down the drain.

I don't know about the septic issues, but a partial remedy might be the 150 gpd upgrade kit...at least you'll be saving some water from the septic system.

 

[xxHLTxx]

I know a few reefers up in the mountains on septic systems with large tanks. Water down the driveway. or at least out to the street.... but waste water from RO was used for the lawn like others have noted.

 

[ReefCheif]

If your truely worried about it you could always evaporate any saltwater leaving only the salt behind and dispose of that in the trash.

Ive got numorus friends that libe in areas that use septic systems and none of them have ever had any issues with the saltwater.

 

[xxHLTxx]

I wouldn't think it would be problems with the septic more rather if you have a large system, with quite a bit of RO waste as well as large water changes, you could fill a septic rather quickly causing a backup...

 

[Highway66]

My dads house had a septic. Small house and probably had an undersized system but he would periodically have problems with overfilling and would have to have it pumped. Maybe every 2-3 years he had it pumped. So while i cant comment on the saltwater issue i can second the volume concern.

I wouldn't think it would be problems with the septic more rather if you have a large system, with quite a bit of RO waste as well as large water changes, you could fill a septic rather quickly causing a backup...

 

[halmus]

After doing some house hunting today, it looks less likely that we'll end up in a house with our own sewage and well. The place didn't work out, but a few others are possibilities. So far, the alternative houses are on some sort of public sewage/water. Still, I want to conserve water.

Not sure about the saltwater, but you can always use the waste water to water you lawn/garden and it makes for a great source of drinking water since it gets rid of most of the stuff you dont want before it ever reaches the ro but doesnt get rid of all the vitamins and electrolytes.

Thanks. I defiantly want to consider a way to save the waste for general yard purposes if nothing else.

I have heard/been told that salt water going to the septic isn't an issue. No real data or professional knowledge to back that up tho. I change 20g per week and the volume seems like it wouldn't be enough to cause issues...but I can't say for sure.

8 months out of the year I recycle my waste RO water to water the garden...in the winter it gets dumped due to the temps...although I use it for hand washing stuff on occasion.

Please don't drink your waste water. After going through the carbon block chlorines have been removed....which means there is a good opportunity for bacteria to thrive on your RO membrane. That bacteria is then potentially introduced into your waste water. There's a reason why home RO filtration systems include either a re-chlorinator or UV after the membrane...

I never thought about what effects the filtration would have on water as far as making it more conducive to bacterial colonization. Thanks for the insight.

I recently upgraded my RODI system with the Bulk Reef Supply 150 GPD upgrade kit. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-150-gpd-water-saver-upgrade-kit.html it reduces waste water by 50%. I've always captured the waste water in a 40 gallon bucket. In the summer I use the waste water to fill a water fountain in the yard, and in the winter months I have to let it go down the drain.

I don't know about the septic issues, but a partial remedy might be the 150 gpd upgrade kit...at least you'll be saving some water from the septic system.

That BRS upgrade is on my list. Water was a luxury when I was in Wa. There was no shortage.

 

[halmus]

My dads house had a septic. Small house and probably had an undersized system but he would periodically have problems with overfilling and would have to have it pumped. Maybe every 2-3 years he had it pumped. So while i cant comment on the saltwater issue i can second the volume concern.

That's something I'll have to keep in mind. I have plans for a fairly big system. Somewhere between 200-400g display plus sump and QT. The size will depend on the house and space (and wife).

I know a few reefers up in the mountains on septic systems with large tanks. Water down the driveway. or at least out to the street.... but waste water from RO was used for the lawn like others have noted.

I would think the salt buildup would kill the vegetation over time when poured out on the drive, but that's not a big concern in some cases. I guess it could be a good way to keep weeds out of the gravel drive. I could be wrong about killing the vegetation but I've heard of extreme historical cases where people "salted" agricultural land to ruin it for a period of time. Thanks for the input.

If your truely worried about it you could always evaporate any saltwater leaving only the salt behind and dispose of that in the trash.

Ive got numorus friends that libe in areas that use septic systems and none of them have ever had any issues with the saltwater.

I could go into business selling designer salts at local farmer's markets! Add some lavender, or just leave it with the natural "fishy" scented brand. Now I just need a business name and catch phrase.

 

[halmus]

Thanks to everyone for your input. I appreciate it. I can't wait to get wet again.

Things are falling into place and I hope to have a job in Golden by the end of the month. Then a house. Then, ship all of my woodworking tools out from the PODS storage in WA. Once I have my shop, I can get to work. Nothing to it.