Saltwater effects on septic system?

[SnkyJake]

Hi Guys,

My wife and I are going to be building a new house out in the country, and I am curious about the effects of my waste saltwater on my septic system, and lake.

I only have a 75 gallon tank, but with 10 gallons being dumped down the drain weekly, will the saltwater screw up the chemical balance of the septic tank? (And the the leach field of the septic will eventually lead to my 10 acre lake... and, will the salt pass through the septic, and reach the leachfield)

I really want to take my tank with me when we move, but am fearful that I may be causing other problems... with either the septic, or the leach field becoming caustic (if the salt passes through the septic freely)

Amyone have any experience or knowledge about this?

Thanks for your help!

~Jake

 

[xroads]

We just put ours in and the guy said not to worry about it. My pond is only about 50 yards from the leach field as well.

 

[Atticus]

I am not a septic system expert, do not play one on tv, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but here it goes:

A saltwater tank runs at 1.025 which is the same SG as urine. You will have more salt in your tank than normal, but it should not affect any ionic or biological balance or your leach field. You could think about just dumping it outside, if you have an area you didn't want grass...

 

[SnkyJake]

Thanks for the information guys.

Now that I know that, I may have to tell the wife that the 75 would look "too small" in the new house, and that I'll need to upgrade!

 

[davidm199]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11022078#post11022078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus


A saltwater tank runs at 1.025 which is the same SG as urine.

just wondering how and why you know this!

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11022721#post11022721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davidm199
just wondering how and why you know this!

I just assumed it was general geek knowledge.

 

[vvolfe1]

I'm not sure about the septic system. I'd guess that the salt would kill off the bacteria that is breaking down human waste. I'll find out tommorrow at work from our waste water plant.

I do know that a 75 might look small. Tell the wife you need one of those 180's that were just for sale.

 

[js_bass]

Yah there were about ten of umm. Also the random geek knowledge is hilarious

 

[overanalyzer]

hey last house in KS had septic.... no issues on my 140 doing 25 gallon water changes.... just pour an extra beer or two down the drain (or yeast water or septic microbe packet thingys) .....

 

[xroads]

So are you building yourself & contracting?

 

[Nanemene]

I've read threads on this before, and I think most people had no issues at all.

 

[vvolfe1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11024368#post11024368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by overanalyzer
hey last house in KS had septic.... no issues on my 140 doing 25 gallon water changes.... just pour an extra beer or two down the drain (or yeast water or septic microbe packet thingys) .....

Well I asked my boss at work. He used to work in our waste water plant. He basically said the same thing. Youd need a heck of alot of salt water to harm the septic. If you did you can get some bottle of bacteria at alot of RV places.

 

[SnkyJake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11024705#post11024705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xroads
So are you building yourself & contracting?

The truth be known... my wife will probably build our house. She's a construction/carpenter/cement girl, so she knows more about building than I do. I know she'll do all the cement work herself, along with any backhoe/skidsteer work. But how involved she'll get in the carpentry remains to be seen. (It all depends on how extravagant her plans with the architect get, and how much equipment she can borrow from her boss) :mixed:


Well I asked my boss at work. He used to work in our waste water plant. He basically said the same thing. Youd need a heck of alot of salt water to harm the septic. If you did you can get some bottle of bacteria at alot of RV places.

Thanks vvolfe1 for the information!