The septic system’s longevity and overall health is top-priority for us, so when we perform a septic evaluation and we find there is a garbage disposal and/or water softener draining into the septic tank, we are quick to recommend another solution.
Most septic systems are not designed for garbage disposals; by current NH law, you must have a much bigger septic tank (1.5 times the size) to allow for the amount of solids that you are putting down the drain and this is not usually part of a “normal” septic design. Also, food waste is different than human waste in its decomposition rate and have a harder time breaking down in a system not designed for that type of waste.
When discharged into the system, water softeners can also create problems given the amount of salt they are discharging. This can do a number of things (especially if there are concrete components to your system) including corroding the septic tank and/or distribution box and disrupting the natural chemicals in the soil of the leach bed. We aren’t saying don’t have a water softener, just plumb it into its own disposal location!
To read more about this, check out a new article from Pumper Magazine: Troubleshooting: Water Softener Use and Garbage Disposals