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Water softener brine tank (C) Daniel FriedmanWater Softener Disinfectant Impact on Septic
Do sanitizers hurt the septic system?

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about Cleaning & Sanitizing Water Softeners & About using a sanitizer in water softeners and the effect of sanitizers on septic systems

Effects of Water Softener Cleaning & Sanitizing on private septic tanks and absorption beds.

This article series provides an owner's guide to water softener cleaning, and sanitizing - two steps in keeping a water conditioner working properly. We discuss the use of various chemicals & cleaners to sanitize or clean out water softeners and their brine tanks, and we comment on the effect of such chemicals on septic systems.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Cleaning & Sanitizing Water Softeners & Using a sanitizer in water softeners - the effects of sanitizers on septic systems

Photo of a water softener salt tank ready for cleaningThis article discusses possible harm that using bleach, a disinfectant, or other sanitizers might have on the septic tank or drainfield when cleaning as water softener.

If you need help with actually cleaning or disinfecting a water softener or other water treatment equipment, see WATER SOFTENER CLEANING & SANITIZING.

Question: Will using BioSafe™ sanitizer in the water softener harm the septic system?

We have been doing business with a company called Biosafe and have not be satisfied with the results.

I am referencing your article on line “Water Softeners – water softener effect on drinking water and on septic systems" [found at SALT OR WATER INTO SEPTIC].

As I understand the fine print on page 1, you are saying you do not recommend this product. My husband read it just the opposite….that biosafe is one of the recommended products. Could you please clarify. - B.R.

Reply: BioSafe's Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic acid - based sanitizers

BioSafe's Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic acid - based sanitizers, used as directed, should have significantly less impact on the environment (and therefore on a residential septic system) than certain other chemicals used as sanitizers or disinfectants. But be sure you were using the right product for the right application and in the proper manner.

The article you cited, found at SALT OR WATER INTO SEPTIC - does not discuss Biosafe nor any other specific sanitizer or disinfectant, but perhaps you saw a Google-placed a Biosafe ad at the top of our page.

The "fine print" to which you refer may have been our statement affirming our independence from any advertisers, products, or services that I quote here:

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at CONTACT InspectApedia.

I took a look at a Biosafe site (www.biosafesystems.com) that may be the source of the product you asked about: BioSafe Systems LLC - but you should confirm that this is the company whose product you are asking about.

BioSafe Systems produces a wide range of sanitizing products used in agriculture, animal health, greenhouses, water and wastewater industries, food safety, turf, pond and lawn care, and general sanitation.

The BioSafe product line, as I read the company's information on general sanitation, is based on activated peroxygen sanitizers marketed as an alternative to chlorine, phenol, and quat-based formulas. Even as a layman not a chemist, it is easy to understand the basis of the company's assertion that their approach is less harsh and less persistent in the environment than some of the alternatives.

Here you can see a list of links to MSDS sheets for BioSafe™ products: http://www.biosafesystems.com/Product-PH-MSDSsheets.asp

Of their products, and not knowing which Biosafe product you're interested in, I looked at SaniDate 5.0 Sanitizer/Disinfectant a sanitizer described at http://www.biosafesystems.com/MSDS%20Labels/SaniDate5.0MSDS.pdf

The BioSafe MSDS shows that the hazardous components of this product are Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic acid - two very common and widely used disinfectants that are less dangerous to the environment than some other chemicals because the products are not cumulative in the environment.

BioSafe says that the product degrades 99% in 20 minutes. That's quite a good argument supporting the assertion of no bioaccumulation. It's worth noting that the product is however in direct contact acutely toxic to fish, crustaceans, and bacteria (bacteria was probably its target in the first place, no?)

Watch out: at BioSafe's website I did not read specific advice addressing use of their products in a residential water softener. I have asked the company for more information and advice.

In Sum:

I am not an expert in the field, but as a general researcher/investigator I interpret the information about the product to indicate that the product, used as directed by its producer, and at normal levels and frequency of household use, is unlikely to damage a septic system drainfield.

Your husband is right in intent (product OK) but wrong in a literal sense (we do not recommend specific products) - the product does not look harmful to the septic system, with how-to guidance from the manufacturer might be fine for sanitizing a water softener, but in particular, we do not recommend specific products or services. To avoid any conflict of interest, we have no relationship whatsoever with products or services advertised or discussed)

Further details needed:

Please tell me what product you were using, why you are not satisfied with the results, and keep me posted on how things progress in your own case, let me know how you were intending to use the product, and send along photos of any equipment (like water softener) involved if you can.

Such added details can help us understand what's happening and often permit some useful further comment.

Also if you were dissatisfied with a BioSafe product you should contact the company to assure that you were using their product for an application that they recommend, and in the manner that they recommend for that use.

What we both learn may help me help someone else.

Question: Using Starsan to sanitize my GE

(Nov 12, 2012) Using Starsan to sanitize my GE said:

I am wondering if it would be alright to use Starsan to sanitize my water softener. Starsan from fivestarchemicals.com, is a phosphoric acid based product. It is promoted as a 'no-rinse' sanitizer and is often used in food preparation environments, most notably in breweries.

I would like to use it instead of bleach, but am concerned with two things. 1- any negative affect to the water softener or drinking water. 2- it has a foaming nature, will this cause damage?

Water Softener Sanitizing References


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