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Where to discharge Water Softener Backwash

Where To Discharge Water Softener Backwash: 5 Simple Ways [2023]

Are you trying to figure out where to discharge water softener backwash? Let me share the secret here: The best way to discharge it is to drain it into a dry well or French drain.

Backwash brine water contains high levels of salt and minerals. When this is discharged into the environment carelessly, it creates several problems. Therefore, it is essential to handle its drainage with proper care. 

Lucky for you, I have gone down the rabbit hole to find different ways for this comprehensive guide on where to discharge softener backwash. 

Continue reading to find the complete list of 5 easy ways to discharge backwash and places you should avoid discharging (+ all about water softener drain line and pro-tips on using backwash!)

Table Of Contents

✅ Best Places For Outdoor Discharge Of Water Softener Backwash 

You can quickly drain the hard liquid outside, but this can harm the local water treatment system and our environment. The backwash solution contains several salts and other harmful minerals.

Here’s a list of places where you can drain it without causing any harm:

LIST OF DRAINING PLACES

  • Dry Wells:

    Dry wells have a deep hole and porous wall that allow slow soaking of the backwash into the ground. The best way to go about this will be if the dry well is placed over a water table.

    The water table will allow the backwash to be slowly released into the surroundings. This is beneficial as it prevents a sudden increase in concentrations of sodium in the soil. 

  • French Drain:

    A pipe is placed horizontally along the ditch in a French drain. This ditch is covered with pebbles, and the pipe has interspersed holes in it. French drain ensures that the solution is dispersed horizontally over a larger surface area. The pebbles make sure there is enough space, preventing overflow. 

  • Septic Drain:

    A septic drain field is an excellent way to drain the backwash as long as it has a drain field. You can convert an old septic tank, disconnect it from the outlet pipe and make holes at the bottom of the tank. Add some pea stone to the tank and connect it with the water softener. 

  • Subsurface:

    When draining onto the subsurface, maximize the distance between the point of brine discharge and the well. One hundred feet is the average distance usually recommended. Keep the brine discharge downhill from the drinking tap sources. 

  • OWTS:

    You can use the Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Just make sure it is the right size and can handle the volume of water being treated. Keep in mind that brine is heavier than water and may settle at the bottom of the tank. You might need to clean the tank regularly if this happens through these onsite systems.
Also Read: In-Depth Review of Iron Pro 2 Water Softener

What Is Backwash Brine Solution, And What Does It Contain?

Backwash Brine Solution

The backwash is the water that flows upward through the resin tank with high pressure to clear out the extra hard minerals settled in the resin bed. This water is made to flow in some form of drainage.

The backwash is done to make the softening system ready for use again. This backwash brine solution contains excessive chloride, potassium ions, and sodium content.

The backwash is an essential step in the regeneration process. A conventional water softener regenerates every two to three days. In newer models, regeneration might happen every day or a few times. Usually, it takes around 10 minutes to complete the entire backwash process. 

Backwash usually contains hard minerals like high amounts of sodium ions, low levels of calcium and magnesium ions, and sometimes, trace amounts of iron and other minerals. This makes the backwash brine solution rich in salt and mineral contents. 

Also Read: Water Softener Water Tastes Salty?

❌ Places To Avoid Outdoor Discharge Of Water Softener Backwash

By now, you know what all places are suitable to discharge backwash in. There are a few places that you must avoid while discharging backwash water. Before moving ahead, go through the local regulations regarding softener drainage solutions.

Let’s talk about the places to avoid during discharge:

  • An environment is rich in animal and plant habitats: Water with high amounts of hardness minerals like sodium harms humans and the plants and animals in the surrounding environment. High mineral and salt concentrations will contaminate their natural habitat and can be toxic for them. Avoid draining backwash brine in ponds and lakes.
  • Near local water sources: Avoid draining backwash discharge near local lakes, ponds, or rivers as it may cause an increase in sodium content. And if these sources are connected to your main household taps, this high concentration can cause adverse effects.
  • Fertile Farmland: Avoid draining backwash brine in fertile farmlands. This high mineral and salt content containing the backwash will create an imbalance in the soil mineral salt content and might destroy the vegetation. However, you may dilute it before use. It can cause mineral toxicity in crops and lead to crop failure. 
Also Read: Reset Water Softener In 10 Easy Steps

Smart Uses of Water Softener Backwash

Yes, backwash water is harmful to the environment, but it can be put to good use.

Here are some clever ways in which you can use backwash water:

  • To kill bacteria: Brine water is high in minerals and sodium content. It creates such an environment that makes it hard for the bacteria to survive; hence can be used to kill bacteria. You could use it to clean your kitchen surfaces or make your bathroom bacteria-free. 
  • To make garden slugs accessible: Garden slugs can be much more troublesome. Backwash discharge has beneficial effects in getting rid of slugs since slugs are highly repulsive to salts. Make a solution of brine and water in a 50:50 ratio and wash your feet with it. It will help remove the slugs within a few minutes. 
  • In a sea fish aquarium: You can use this brine solution in your sea fish aquarium as some fishes require saline water to survive. Add the aquarium with 2/3rd of this solution and fill the rest with the fresh one. This will also save your efforts in making or arranging salt water separately. 
  • Deicing: It can be used to dice driveways during winters when everything is covered in snow. It works much better than freshwater in deicing as it has an even lower freezing point. 
Also Read: How To Soften Hard Water Naturally

Ideal Places To Discharge Water Softener Backwash In The Basement

Suppose your water softener is installed in the basement. The best way is to drain the backwash in the basement itself. Here are a few ways to go about that:

  • Floor Drain: A floor drain is the easiest way to drain backwash discharge in the basement. Most softening systems provide enough water pressure to send it upwards and out of the basement. If your system, for some reason, has less pressure, you can use the alternative pumps mentioned below. 
  • Sewage ejector pump: This works quite similarly to a sump pump. It pushes the water up to a certain height, and then the harmful and useless discharge is drained out. In a sewage ejector pump, the difference is that it drains the backlash water directly into sewage. These pumps also use vents to avoid the reentry of sewage into your water supply line.  
  • Sump pump: A sump pump works by discarding the water once it reaches a certain height. Sump pumps are usually installed in the sump basin. You can run the softener drain in the sump basin. It will trigger the sump pump and cause it to push the water to the required level so that the backwash discharge will be drained out. 
Also Read: 7 Ways To Increase Pressure In RO Systems

A Quick (Yet Effective) Guide On Draining Water Softener

  • Start by scooping or vacuuming the tank. It will help remove the dirt and sediments from the tank. This can be done quickly by hand.
  • Once you think you’ve cleaned enough, rinse it thoroughly. If the water comes out clean, it can be reused. 
  • Next, initiate the regeneration process by appropriate programming.
  • You can change the programming on the softening system as per your requirement. 
  • The final step is to empty the brine tank into the drain.
  • Before moving the tank, don’t forget to bypass any remaining water.
  • Remove the overflow hose and salt grid as well. 
Also Read: 3 Best Water Softeners

Where To Discharge Water Softener Backwash FAQs

Should the water softener drain into the septic?

Yes, softened water can be drained into septic tanks. This causes no harm or adverse effects to them.

Why does my water softener drain pipe need to have an air gap?

Air gaps are required to prevent the mixing of non-potable and potable water. They help avoid contamination of the water used for consumption.

How often should my water softener be backwash in a week?

You can do regeneration and backwash once every week. Some systems regenerate every night.

Why does my water softener keep backwashing?

Over the resin, beds get covered up with hardness ions and minerals with frequent use. Backwashing takes place as a form of drainage to remove these minerals and restart the water softening process to get soft water.

Is regeneration the same as backwash?

No, both are different. Backwashing removes particles and the trapped gases in between. It is also helpful in removing resin bed compression. The Regeneration process involves replacing the sodium ions exchanged during the ion exchange process in water softening.

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