Water softener installation - drain line

[Joe]

Hi There,

I am trying to have a water softener installed. I got a quote of about $1K to install, mainly due to the drain line. While I don't know how much the going rate for installing a water softener (San Jose, CA), I felt the estimate of more than 60' drain line is a potential problem. This line essentially routes along my whole garage and end in an outside sewer tap in.

I saw some neighbors installed the softener drain line that dumps water onto the plants or even just the driveway. Is it OK? I do have a rain gutter pipe close by. Can I tap into that?

Thanks, Joe.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Your nighbors are idiots. You don't want the brine rinse duming on the ground.

I do have a rain

Depends, where does it go?

[Joe]

The gutter goes to the street, where water goes along side the curb and get into the street drain about 100 feet.

Thanks again, Joe.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

The neighbors and/or the EPA will be at your door if you drain there.

[Joe]

How about the long route to the sewer? It seems like that's the only option? Any other opinion?

[Joe]

BTW, what if I use potassium for the softener? Will it allow me to use the drained water on plants?

Thanks, Joe.

[Gary Slusser]

You should use PE tubing in one piece and use 3/4" if you are going over 30' or, the softener's DLFC (drain line flow control) can be increased accordingly.

You don't want the discharge water on/in the ground regardless of what you regenerate with; sodium or potassium chloride.

Gary Quality Water Associates