Water Issues 4

[Lion06]

Hi guys-
I hope this doesn't get red-flagged.
I am looking for some help with a water issue at home. We have well-water and it is VERY hard. It has a decent amount of manganese and leaves stains (that can be difficult to clean) on a lot of surfaces.
There is a water softener that was in place when we bought the house (2 years ago), but I don't think it works well and is pretty old. We would like to upgrade, but I wanted to get some opinions on water softeners before I invest a decent amount of money in one.

Can I get some educated opinions?

 

[Lion06]

bimr-
I didn't mean that the salt harmed septic systems, but that the constant backwashing of the system could harm the septic system by dumping too much water into it at once. This is why we were told to space out our loads of laundry if using the on-site septic system.

 

[bimr]

Perhaps you should investigate the front loading washing machines. The front loading units use significant less water and soap than top loaders.

 

[cvg]

front loaders also use significantly less energy to heat the water. plus they are gentler on your clothes - your wife will love it...

 

[Lion06]

but that still doesn't address the issue of backwashing the salt-based water softener.

 

[cvg]

well, the way I read the link that bimr posted, there really is no issue. the systems don't do "constant backwashing"

http://www.wqa.org/sitelogic.cfm?ID=363

 

[BigH]

My mum lives in a house with a septic system and it has used salt (the Culligan Man) since it was built back in the early 1960s. She does not have a problem with her system. Everyone in her farming area of Indiana (in her area) uses salt softeners. The only drawback I have always noticed is how hard it is to feel that the soap has been washed off when you shower. But, then, the women down there all have good skin well into their 80s and 90s. As for your municipality - do they use salt in the winter on the roads?

 

[cvg]

my dad has used a softener since 1969 in his house. It backwashes during the night while everybody is sleeping and does it once or twice a week. Never actually seen it operate, but have heard it occasionally during the night. The other drawback is taste. The softened water has kind of a flat taste so a separate faucet is often run to the kitchen sink so that better tasting mineral water can be used for drinking.

 

[sbush]

If your house already has a salt type softener, I'd argue that you are "grandfathered" in. Just have the old one refurbished by a dealer.

If the township doesn't buy that argument, see if their objection is based upon the use of sodium chloride (NaCL) salt. There is an "environmentally friendlier" type of salt on the market that is potassium chloride (KCL). It is manufactured by Vigoro, the fertilizer people, and it will not harm plants like sodium chloride will. Potassium chloride laiden wastewater can be sprayed on grass for disposal by irrigation. The downside to KCL is that it may not be as readily available in stores like NaCL. So, you might have to store up a lot of it.

If you decide to go in the direction of membranes, try not to use a reverse osmosis (RO) system because they are subject to fouling with scale from the hardness in the water and the manganese. Instead, look into using a nanofiltration (NF)membrane system. Nanofiltration is also known as "low-pressure membrane softening". The NF system reduces hardness and sulfates, but allows other dissolved minerals to pass through so the finished water is not overly purified as far as drinking water standards are concerned.

S. Bush

http://www.water-eg.com