Alternatives to water softener systems?


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Old 02-22-17, 01:43 PM
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Question Alternatives to water softener systems?

My drilled well water is really good quality, but it does have elevated levels of manganese. I've been told this is harmless and its only negative is a slight rotten egg smell. In my house the water softener system discharged into my septic system and I read that is harmful to the septic field. (Basically turns it into hardpan I think they called it). And it used a lot of water. So I turned off my system.

So I am wondering about alternatives to water softener systems. Does such a thing exist to remove manganese? I did install filters (not for this purpose though) and hoped I would get lucky even though I didn't expect I would.

Or maybe I should consider a new softener system that uses way less salt and water, and thus discharges way less to my septic system. I thought about simply discharging the waste water outdoors through a separate pipe but being in Canada I am scared it will freeze and I will come home to a flooding mess someday.

Anyone have any thoughts?
 
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Old 02-22-17, 03:52 PM
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There are other ways to remove manganese depending on what form you have and whether or not there is also iron in the water. An air injection system, followed by a settling tank and a backwash filter system would be one example.
 
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Old 02-22-17, 04:32 PM
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Basically turns it into hardpan
I've never heard that term regarding a septic system but essentially your septic system is an expensive item, you dont put grease, food, non degradable anything in there so treat it right and dont put all that extra water and salt in there.

Honestly there is really nothing long lasting, economical, and efficient as a salt/resin water softener.

BTW rotten egg smell is from sulfur, have you had a good water test?
 
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Old 02-23-17, 02:00 AM
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Septic field hardpan? Just google it.

I have had a few water tests done, and manganese is the only one I have. The air injection system seems neat I should look into that.

and dont put all that extra water and salt in there.
So where do I put it? Have someone come in and dig me a deep leeching hole, filled with gravel, and pipe to that? What ever I do that involves the outside, it has to be at least 4 feet deep.
 

Last edited by Bob_Plumb; 02-23-17 at 02:05 AM. Reason: added more stuff
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Old 02-23-17, 05:54 AM
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I had a well along with a water softener when I lived in fla. I dug a leach pit for my washing machine water and also had the softener empty into it. It worked fine. Obviously in fla I didn't need to go as deep as you would in a colder climate.
 
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Old 02-23-17, 06:06 AM
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A lot has to do with your setting. I've had a dry well once, I currently drain to my sump which drains to my creek, used to have a house with a canyon in the backyard and just discharge over the side.

As long as your pipe has slope it wont freeze.
 
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Old 02-23-17, 09:05 AM
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As long as your pipe has slope it wont freeze.
The salt in the discharge probably helps with that.
I'm in Michigan and my softener empties into my sump pit and from there is pumped about 100' where it emerges on a slope. It has never frozen.
 
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Old 02-25-17, 05:23 PM
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As long as your pipe has slope it wont freeze.
The salt in the discharge probably helps with that.
I'm in Michigan and my softener empties into my sump pit and from there is pumped about 100' where it emerges on a slope. It has never frozen.
Same as mine here in Michigan. My softener goes into the sump, which is then discharged to a drain pipe that can't be more than 6" below ground. The drain pipe runs for probably a good 75 feet and discharges to daylight. It has never frozen yet...
 
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Old 02-25-17, 10:20 PM
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Not sure about the manganese but this may be an alternate for the water hardness. There are great reviews all over the web for this

https://www.costco.ca/Calmat-Electro...100217391.html
 
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Old 02-26-17, 09:16 AM
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Thanks Superdave, I'll give this a read just the same, but my issue is manganese, not hardness.
 
 

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