How to dispose of water softener salt? (5 ways to dispose of)

The article will cover ways to dispose of water softener salts. Other covered aspects would include: 

• Ways to dispose of water softener salts 
• Relation between water softener salt and groundwater 
• Ways to use water softener system sustainably 
• Relation between water softener salt and soil
• Relation  between water softener systems and appliances 

How to dispose of water softener salt?

There are a number of ways that can be depended upon to dispose of water softener salt. While the discharge (in small quantities or after dilution) will not cause significant environmental complications, there are better ways to repurpose salts such as used for food, weed control or deicing purposes. 

For small amounts, you may contact nearby recycling centres (local) such as: 

• J & J Recycling 
• Twin city refuse and recycling 
• Local waste management departments 

The article will discuss various tricks and protocols that you can depend upon to ensure sustainable use of water softener salt to optimise the waste produced and energy consumed. 

A relation between water softener salt and systems will be drawn and various environmental and utilitarian benefits were shed light upon. 

What are the ways to recycle or dispose of water softener salts? (5 ways)

Water softener salt is the salt that is responsible for the softening of water by the necessary removal of chemicals that make it hard. Hard water has a lot of disadvantages such as: 

• Clogged pipe 
• Faded laundry 
• Skin problems 
• Soap scum buildup 
• Decreased life of appliances

Therefore, in order to tackle the issue of hard water, we have water softener systems. The basic function of these systems is to remove calcium and magnesium from water and replace it with salts. 

However, an important question remains what happens to the salts once they are used? How are they removed and disposed of and what are the possible health and environmental complications caused by water-softening salts? There are usually three types of salts used: 

• Rock 
• Solar 
• Evaporated 

Let us, therefore, explore some of the ways in which water softener salts can be disposed of or rather repurposed: 

• Dilution 
• Let the deer eat it!
• Trash cans 
• Melting of ice 
• Weed control 

Dilution 

One of the best ways to deal with water softener salt is to dilute it before draining it down. Diluting the water softener salt will ensure that there is no harm done and that the chemistry of water bodies is not altered in any way. 

To do that, simply prepare a tub of water and add the water softener salt. Let the salt dissolve and then drain the salty water as normal. 

Let the deer eat it

Did you know that deer actually eat salt and thus you can utilise water softener salt as food for deer. The process is rather simple. Simply place the water softener salt in a bucket and place the bucket in an area where there are deers around. 

That’s it! There is nothing else required from your end. The rest is done by mother nature. 

Trash cans 

Another way to dispose of water softener salt is to place it in a bag and dump it in trash cans. This bag will most likely end up in a landfill. This method is not hazardous but since there are other options through which you can repurpose water softener salt, it is advisable to give this option a lower priority. 

Melting of ice

Another great way to utilise water softener salt is to store it for the winter season and then this water softener salt can be used to melt ice on roads and other places. Not only the salt will assist in melting the ice but will also provide traction. 

Weed control 

Did you know that water softener salt can kill all the vegetation in an area? It may look like a disadvantage but it can also be made to be an advantageous factor. 

For example, in areas where there is an overgrowth of weeds or other shrubs, you use the remainder of water softener salt to control the extra growth. 

Does salt from water softener system causes groundwater pollution?

The answer to this question actually varies on certain conditions and filters. However, as a one-liner answer; no, water softener salt does not cause groundwater pollution or problems. 

In actuality, there are primarily two conditions that will determine if the water softener salt will cause problems or not. Those conditions are:

• Is the salt diluted?
• How big is the nearby water body or how deep is the groundwater reservoir?

These are two main factors. Usually, when there is a big water body around with great depths of water, water softener salt disposal will not cause any problems because the ratio would be pretty insignificant. 

Therefore, adding water-softening salt will not scale up to cause any significant problems. However, if the water body is not that deep or big, then perhaps you need to consider the option of dilution. 

Dilution is a simple strategy that can be opted for prior to the disposal of water-softening salt in ground or water bodies and this will ensure that there are no major environmental problems caused. 

While there may be industrial procedures to dilute water softener salt, we have already discussed one easy way which is to add water softener salt in the bathtub and then drain the salted water. 

There is one precaution that one should be mindful of and that is the water softener salt must not be disposed of in large quantities as this can cause groundwater pollution. It is claimed that one teaspoon of sodium chloride can pollute and contaminate up to more than 5 gallons of water permanently. 

Also, you need to ensure that the water softener system is not being used without care as this will also lead to excessive production of salt waste and then, resultantly, the chances of groundwater contamination will also increase drastically. 

How to use a water softener system sustainably?

The right and sustainable use of the water softener system will determine the environmental impact of the salt waste produced from it. 

If the water softener system is not used properly, there could be negative repercussions on the environment in terms of greater energy use and more waste production. 

Therefore, let us explore some of the ways in which water softener systems can be used properly and sustainably to ensure that there is no harm posed to the environment. The precautions and protocols include: 

• First, you need to know the hardness level of your water supply and therefore, it is recommended to adjust the hardness level accordingly. This will lead to better utilisation of resources and controlled waste production. 
• You need to ensure that the hardness setting on the water softener system is adjusted correctly because otherwise, there will be excessive use of energy and more production of waste.
• You also need to ensure that the water softener system is filled with the required salts in the right amounts. For this, you will have to see the instruction manual or talk to an expert. 
• You don’t need to soften every water supply. Sources such as toilets, basement sinks or cold water taps do not really need to be softened. However, if the water is way too hard, you may need to have it softened because otherwise, there could be damage to the pipe and water system. 
• If there is new copper plumbing in the house, it is advised to wait for some days before proceeding with the water softening. This is said so that there is an extra layer of minerals which will help to ensure a longer life of copper plumbing. 
• If your water softener system is outdated, it is advised to have it replaced because new technology will be greener and better with waste. 
• Go for greener options available such as WET (Water Efficient Technology) which claim to reduce water and salt use by more than 50%. 

Is water softener salt good for the soil?

Yes, water softener salt may be good for the soil, as laid out by the EPA, but you need to be careful about the quantity. If there is an excessive discharge of water softener salt, this will result in degradative effects on not only the soil but associated life as well. 

What is the relation between a water softener system and appliances?

There is a direct relationship between the water softener system (and salts) and the environment because when we use softened water, not only the efficiency of appliances such as washing machines are improved, but their life of appliances is also increased. 

It is even claimed that the use of water-softening salts and systems result in better cleaning which is similar to when phosphates are used (except for the fact that you do not need any phosphates that have degradative effects on the environment). 

Also, it is stated that there are no adverse impacts of water softener salts on the septic tanks which appears to be another factor favouring the inertness of sustainable amounts of water softener salts. 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that there are a number of ways that can be depended upon to dispose of water softener salt. While the discharge (in small quantities or after dilution) will not cause significant environmental complications, there are better ways to repurpose salts such as used for food or deicing purposes. 

The article also discussed various tricks and protocols that you can depend upon to ensure sustainable use of water softener salt to optimise the waste produced and energy consumed. 

Finally, a relation between water softener salt and systems was drawn and various environmental and utilitarian benefits were shed light upon. 

References

(October 8, 2019). Are water softeners bad for the environment? Retrieved from: https://www.water-rightgroup.com/resources/are-water-softeners-bad-for-the-environment/

Department of Health US. FAQs of Home Water Softening. Retrieved from: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/softening.html

American Groundwater Trust. Softener Salt. Retrieved from: https://agwt.org/content/softener-salt

Gray, Kelly. How to dispose of water softener salt. Retrieved from: https://www.hunker.com/12412181/how-to-dispose-of-water-softener-salt