salt water in septic system?

deuceb · Jun 6, 2009

could dumping salt water into my septic system be harmful to it

McD57 · Jun 6, 2009

http://www.septicprotector.com/

This man knows everything concerning septic systems.

He also answers his emails!

mfinn · Jun 6, 2009

I did water changes on my saltwater tanks for the last 18 years in my present house and have had no problems at all.
The last pumping of it was last week and all was well.
At one time I was doing about 100 gallons of water change every two weeks.

I used a python water change system which uses freshwater to create the syphon which pulls the saltwater out of my tanks.

NewMelee · Jun 7, 2009

If you are concerned you could also run it to your sump pump well. That's if you have one......

gnoles · Jun 7, 2009

From the Septic Protector website....

Sodium (salt) in wastewater can bind with certain types of clay soils causing the soil to seal.

I imagine that if you live in an area with a high clay concentration in the soil, it might be a problem.

dbarker · Jun 7, 2009

I drain mine the the yard. I connect the python to my hose and it goes outside. The grass is thankful. Debbie

gnoles · Jun 7, 2009

As do I, although I have a special little section that I'm actively trying to kill the grass.

I've got to get up to CRA and see if he has a foxface. Eh, maybe later today.

H@rry · Jun 7, 2009

gnoles said:
I have a special little section that I'm actively trying to kill the grass.

How effective is the salt water in killing your grass? I often wondered about that after watching the salt trucks in NE Tennessee spreading salt on the roads when it was snowing. In the spring the grass was just as green on the shoulder of the road as anywhere else.

deuceb · Jun 7, 2009

NewMelee said:
If you are concerned you could also run it to your sump pump well. That's if you have one......

wat r u saying dont understand

kitten0304 · Jun 7, 2009

uh o i better stop putting it my drains whoops

gnoles · Jun 7, 2009

H@rry said:
How effective is the salt water in killing your grass? I often wondered about that after watching the salt trucks in NE Tennessee spreading salt on the roads when it was snowing. In the spring the grass was just as green on the shoulder of the road as anywhere else.

Not very, but if it keeps up I'll mix some Round Up into my waste water.

:xd:

deuceb · Jun 9, 2009

McD57 said:
http://www.septicprotector.com/

This man knows everything concerning septic systems.

He also answers his emails!

thanxs for link he got back to me and told me weekly flushing would kill live bacteria in septic wich is bad:sad:

DvvnXY18qs · Jun 9, 2009

you never stop learning on this site!

mfinn · Jun 9, 2009

The guy that just pumped my septic tank said that it didn't seem to hurt my system, even after 18 years.

revhtree · Jun 9, 2009

Certain Salts will cause undesirable algae to grow in your septic tank...

H@rry · Jun 9, 2009

mfinn said:
The guy that just pumped my septic tank said that it didn't seem to hurt my system, even after 18 years.

Why was he pumping your septic tank?

SaraB · Jun 9, 2009

I don't put my saltwater into the septic system. I drain mine into the sump and it pumps it out to our ditch! I'm just very careful to then fill the sump several times with fresh water so not to rust out my sump pump.

8BALL_99 · Jun 10, 2009

H@rry said:
Why was he pumping your septic tank?

I was kinda of wondering that my self. Mines over 15 years old and has never been pumped. If its working like it should you shouldn't have to pump it.

I dump mine to a gravel pad behind the house.. I even left the pad gravel when I did the driveway just so I'd have a place to dump saltwater. I've been warned that to much salt in the system will effect the bacteria that breaks down the waste. I've also heard of salt binding with clay and causing it not to drain anymore. If that happens your field lines are worthless and your tank will have to be pumped often. At anyrate I figured why risk it. Its not that much more trouble to run a hose outside and drain it. I know that doesnt hurt anything so its worth the extra couple mins to unroll and roll the house back up.

beaslbob · Jun 10, 2009

I don't worry.

but then I don't do water changes either.

flapjack · Jun 10, 2009

8BALL_99 said:
I was kinda of wondering that my self. Mines over 15 years old and has never been pumped. If its working like it should you shouldn't have to pump it.

I dump mine to a gravel pad behind the house.. I even left the pad gravel when I did the driveway just so I'd have a place to dump saltwater. I've been warned that to much salt in the system will effect the bacteria that breaks down the waste. I've also heard of salt binding with clay and causing it not to drain anymore. If that happens your field lines are worthless and your tank will have to be pumped often. At anyrate I figured why risk it. Its not that much more trouble to run a hose outside and drain it. I know that doesnt hurt anything so its worth the extra couple mins to unroll and roll the house back up.

Septics require maintenance, just like your tank. You need to pump the sludge out of the tank, preferably every few years, depending on how many people live there. If you don't the tank will eventually fill with the solids and they will migrate to the field and clog the lines and soil.

It's a bad idea to anything into your septic that might harm the bacteria that work there. I dump my salt water into the ditch.