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Water Softener Use Raises Questions for System Owners

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Water Softener Use Raises Questions for System Owners Winter 2001 Vol. 12, No. 1 SM A L A L L N F L O I O T W A S N C L E E S A U Pipeline R IN G H O Small Community Wastewater Issues Explained to the Public Water Softener Use Raises Questions for System Owners arts of the U.S. have Regenerating the unit uses a Unfortunately, experts don’t all what is commonly large quantity of sodium-rich water, agree on the answers to these ques- referred to as “hard called “brine,” that must be disposed tions. Research has been done that P water,” and people who of. In homes with onsite septic sys- resulted in acceptable conclusions to live in these areas battle tems, this brine flows into the septic many people in the industry, but the problems that hard water creates. tank and eventually makes its way to some authorities believe that more The most common defense against the system’s drainfield. studies are needed to determine what hard water, which is a nuisance but People using home water soften- impact, if any, brine has in a septic not a health hazard, is to install a ers often wonder whether these units system. home water softener. might cause problems for their onsite Because of these differences of Water softening involves septic systems. Some common ques- opinion, this Pipeline issue is unlike exchanging calcium and magnesium tions consumers ask are: most others. Ordinarily we offer minerals present in the water—which • Do water softeners hurt the bacteria information that gives readers con- cause the hardness—with sodium. As that work in a septic tank? crete answers. But because water the water softener processes gallon • Does the additional amount of softener brine disposal remains after gallon of hard water on a daily water from water softener regener- somewhat controversial, Pipeline basis, the treatment capability of the ation affect a septic system’s per- will provide opinions on the research softener becomes depleted and must formance? that has been done to date. be recharged or regenerated. (The • Does the concentrated salt water We know people want informa- complete water softening process is used in regeneration decrease the tion about this subject. At this point, explained beginning on page 2.) drainfield’s ability to absorb waste- our mission is to help readers water? become better educated consumers Figure 1 so that they can make informed deci- sions when trying to resolve their hard water problems. Some steps Water Softener Basics that homeowners can take to mini- mize their concerns about the safe Water Supply (hard) Water to House (soft) operation of their onsite sewage sys- tems are included. Timer-and-Valve Assembly Readers are encouraged to reprint this issue or any Pipeline arti- cles in flyers, newspapers, newslet- Drain ters, or educational presentations. Please include the name and phone number of the National Small Flows Mineral Tank Brine Tank Clearinghouse (NSFC) on the reprinted information and send us a Outlet Manifold Salt copy for our files. If you have questions about reprinting articles or about the topics Resin Beads Float-and-Valv discussed in the newsletter, please Assembly contact the NSFC at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191. Adapted from Popular Mechanics, August 1998 Water Softeners What makes water hard? And how does it become soft? As water flows through layers of ric, leaving clothes dull. Hard water mechanical appliance plumbed rock underground, it picks up loose spots appear on everything that is directly into the home’s water sup- particles and dissolves minerals from washed in and around the home— ply intake. (See figure 1 on page 1.) its surroundings. Because of this from dishes and silverware to the The water softener exchanges calci- characteristic and the kind of rock family car. um and magnesium with sodium in a common in many aquifers, calcium Hard water not only affects process called ion exchange. and magnesium minerals are fre- household cleaning, but the minerals The water softening system con- quently found in household water. also can build up on the inside of sists of a mineral tank and a brine Water with substantial amounts of pipes in the plumbing system. And in tank. The water supply pipe is con- calcium and magnesium is referred water heaters, the minerals settle on nected to the mineral tank so that to as “hard water.” the heating element, the walls of the water coming into the house must Hard water minerals reduce tank, in the hot water pipes, and in pass through the tank before it can water’s ability to function effectively faucets where they produce a scale be used. in our homes. For instance, bath soap (similar to the original rock) that The mineral tank holds small combines with the minerals and reduces the efficiency and life of the beads (also known as resin) that forms a pasty scum that accumulates hot water system. carry a negative electrical charge. on bathtubs and sinks. Homeowners The positively charged calcium and must use more soap and detergent in Water Softeners Make Water magnesium (called ions) are attract- washing, so expense for these prod- Work Better ed to the negatively charged beads. ucts increases. Water softeners combat this nui- This attraction makes the minerals These minerals also combine sance by eliminating the minerals stick to the beads as the hard water with soap in the laundry, and the that cause hard water. The most com- passes through the mineral tank. residue doesn’t rinse well from fab- mon kind of water softener is a (See figure 3 on page 3.) continued on next page Home septic systems Knowing how a septic system EPTIC T NK works helps homeowners understand Conventional Septic Tank why adding something like water sof- Inspection Ports tener regeneration brine may cause Manhole From House To Additional Treatme problems. and/or Dispersal A conventional septic system Scum consists of a septic tank, a distribution Inlet Tee box, and a drainfield, all connected by Effluent Outlet Effluent Filter (Optional) pipes. When wastewater flows from Tee the house, it is temporarily held in the septic tank where heavy solids Sludge (sludge) settle to the bottom. Lighter Single Compartment Septic Tank materials float on the surface of the water in the tank and are called the scum layer. This separation is known box. The distribution box evenly sepa- lates in the bottom of the tank and its as primary treatment. rates the flow into a network of drain- level rises, new wastewater coming The solids that collect in the bot- field pipes. Each pipe has holes in its from the house has less time for sus- tom of the tank and the materials that underside that allow the water to drain pended particles to settle into the float in the scum layer are partially into gravel-filled trenches. The water sludge layer. These suspended parti- decomposed with the help of bacteria slowly seeps into the soil beneath the cles can flow into the absorption field. that occur naturally in human waste. trenches where it is further treated. The septic tank must be pumped The liquid between the solids and the This process is called secondary treat- out periodically to remove the accu- scum flows out of the tank through a ment. mulated sludge and scum and to pre- baffle (or a tee) and into a distribution Important note: As sludge accumu- vent clogging the drainfield. 2 PIPELINE – Winter 2001; Vol.12, No. 1 National Small Flows Clearinghouse (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191 Water Softeners continued from previous page Figure 2 Eventually the surfaces of the beads in the mineral tank become Water Softener Regeneration Water To coated with the calcium and magne- Supply House sium minerals. To clean the beads, a strong sodium (salt) solution held in Backwash Recharge Rinse the brine tank is flushed through the mineral tank. Sodium ions also have a positive electrical charge, just not quite as strong as that of calcium and Drain magnesium. This large volume of sodium ions overpowers the calcium and magnesium ions and drives them off of the beads and into the solu- Mineral Brine tion. The sodium solution carrying Tank Tank the minerals is then drained out of the unit. Some sodium ions remain Adapted from Popular Mechanics, August 1998 in the tank attached to the surfaces of the mineral tank, the calcium and the beads. magnesium ions change places with Reducing The Softening Process the sodium ions on the resin. The displaced sodium ions remain dis- regeneration The normal water softening solved in the water. cycle operates like this: brine flow Hard water enters the mineral tank. Inside the tank, the calcium and •Install a water softener whose magnesium ions carried in the water backwash/regeneration cycle is attach themselves to the beads. The Figure 3 based on need, not on a timer. surfaces of the beads eventually hold A water softener operated by a their limit of calcium and magne- time clock regenerates the miner- sium and can’t remove any more al tank on a regular schedule, from the water. At this point the Calcium regardless of how much water and water softener must be “regenerated.” Magnesium has been used. A softening unit (See figure 2 this page.) The three- Ions in that is regulated by a flow detec- Untreated step regeneration cycle can be sched- Water tion meter measures the amount uled according to a timer or by a of water that has been used and flow detection meter. regenerates the water softener The first step, called the back- accordingly. These units can wash phase, reverses the water’s cost $100 to $450 more than Sodium flow and flushes any accumulated Ions timer-regulated water softeners.
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