[Greenbuilding] Question: Water Softeners and Sewer Lagoons

[Robert W. Tom]

On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:37:40 -0400, Lawrence Lile <LLile at projsolco.com>  
wrote:

> An expert at the University of Missouri says that brine from water
> softeners is unlikely to upset septic tank systems.

FWIW, in my immediate neighbourhood I observed that those homes with water  
softeners experienced failures of their well pumps and pressure tanks  
every 5-10 years and needed to replace their septic fields within 12-15  
years ...while those without water softeners didn't have to replace their  
pressure tanks until after 15 years or more and are still using their  
original septic fields (20+ years).

The "honey man" and all of the septic system contractors that I've  
quizzed, confirm that my observations are not unique to my neighbourhood.

Some background info:

This area is all rock (Canadian Shield), mostly granite with some pockets  
of sandstone or limestone in depressions in the granite. Bedrock is often  
at or near the surface. And lots of dissolved iron too.

Most of the septic fields were of the raised filter media type (ie a 900mm  
deep bed of graded,washed sand, with 300mm of washed crushed stone on top)  
in which the weeping tile or chambers are set. Many who are replacing  
their fields are opting for peat filter systems (ie no septic field  
required).   http://www.ecofloontario.com/

I don't use a water softener.  I feel that the minerals and iron are  
healthy.

Where soft water is needed, I use harvested rainwater or condensate  
harvested from dehumidification.

===* ===
Rob Tom
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
<archilogic at chaffyahoo dot ca>
winnow the chaff from my edress in your reply