Shifting Solutions

Water softener backwash brine and washing machine water should not be run through your septic tank. Septic tanks function by “digesting” solids while detergents, salt and other anti-microbial chemicals slow/stop this natural bacterial digestion.   Always run water softener brine backwash to a separate drywell disposal area (leach pit).   Ideally, all gray water (showers and sinks) would also be diverted to separate leach pits, but at least divert your soapy washing machine water (gray water).   Most manufacturers can provide a removable center spindle lint filter for your washing machine.   Anyone on a septic system should ALWAYS trap lint … only folks on city sewer can just send it down the drain.   And like any project … there are Good, Better and Best approaches with greywater disposal in drywells.   Good … with cleanable/removable lint filter on your washing machine (does not back flush lint down the drain) you could install a single drywell kit.   Better … 2 drywell kits in series (diagram below) allows the first drywell to act as lint & sediment trap.   Best … gray water systems subject to laundry lint, sediment and/or grease from sinks should invest in a full Gray water System with settling tank and filter.

Two drywells in series – bringing sewage or storm water in through the lid of first kit – is standard practice for the vast majority of installations.   The first drywell acts as a sediment catch for leaves, salt, grease, lint, or other particulates and is easily cleaned by reaching down through surface vent with a wet vacuum. Venting your leaching pit is always suggested. The vent grate (included with kit) allows inspection, cleaning and most important of all, AIR into your leach pit.   Oxygen keeps your pit dry between soakings and the soil around it much healthier.   Stagnant soil goes “septic”, creating a dense bio-mat that prevents water from percolating (absorbing) into the ground.   Freezing is rarely, if ever, a problem with running water, especially that far underground, but you can always cap the vents in deep winter, if need be.   Top loading (sending water into drywell through lid with enclosed kit venting parts) also ensures maximum surge capacity for the drywell.   We provide all of the fittings pictured with every kit (four inch san tee, riser, coupler & vent grate, and geotextile fabric).   Please note geotextile fabric is installed primarily ABOVE the leach pit gravel to keep topsoil out of the hole.   It is not necessary to wrap fabric around the drywell itself when you backfill with crushed gravel 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch diameter.   When under pressure after installations, very little, if any, gravel will fall into drywell from side holes.

Installing a system to convert your gray water for re use is usefull in many ways. Not only does your lawn or garden get the water they need, after all they are  not fussy about where the water comes from, but you save a bundle on the water bills and in turn help to keep a green environment. But if you don’t carte a bout all that, then heck, it make for a great project to keep your hands busy.

Another way to get those hands busy and make a sustainable living lifestyle is to build your own renewable energy system. Learning how to build your won solar panels is easy and fun and ever so practical. There are many uses for  home solar systems such as solar water heating or replacing the energy off your grid.  Creating your own home solar power or even installing a wind power generator is easier than you think and will save you a bundle on electrical power as well as the fees charged by large companies. Click the link and explore the possibilities.

1. Luis Sagendorf Says:
   March 1st, 2010 at 4:32 am

   Water softeners or whole house water treatment systems use a process called ion exchange to remove minerals from a water supply before it enters the home. This involves passing the water through a tank filled with resin beads that are coated with ions of either sodium or potassium chloride.



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