Anyone have a water softener AND a septic system?

We are thinking of putting a water softener in, but i am concerned about the salt going out in the leach line. I have found many websites touting the safety of the systems to the septic tank, but none address the plants growing near or above the leach line.

I am hoping someone who actually has a water softener and septic will share their experience.

Thanks,
Melissa

I lived in a house with a well, a septic system, and a water softener for 20 years. I never knew this could be an issue. We never had any problems with the plants or the drain field. The outside water was unsoftened, only the inside water was softened. The problem we did have was hard water deposits on everything!

I know those problems well. Including the white goop clogging the toilet, water heater, shower heads and dishwasher (who knows what else).

Thanks for the info. I am glad to hear it isn't a problem. Do you just have grass above the leach line?

Melissa

The line itself runs under the front yard and the grass does just fine. There are flowerbeds nearby with yews, spirea, japanese maple, salvia, coneflower, morning glory, coreopsis, candytuft, sedum, cosmos, daffodils, and dahlias growing fine, just to give you some examples. This is actually my parents' house. They bought it new 29 years ago and I still help them in the gardens.
Problems we've had include the tank backing up into the yard (ick), finding out there were actually 2 septic tanks buried in the yard instead of just one, having the workmen cut the sprinkler lines while pumping the tank, and lots of stuff turning orange from the rust in the water over the years but I can honestly say that plants and grass have never given me any trouble in this yard. Oh, and the spot over the septic tank is always the first part of the yard to thaw out and turn green in the spring!

In the spring and the heat of summer we have a lovely green stripe down the back yard (leach line) that looks so much lusher and greener than anything else. And on a cold morning you can see the heat rising from above where the septic tank is after a shower or two. And of course, just like you, that big square is the first place to thaw snow.

Luckily we don't have rust, just lots and lots and LOTS of minerals!

I have two houses with well and septic.. one with a water softener....never a problem. the white stuff around here is calcium builds up white and crusty..makes the hot water heater make funny noises as well when it falls of the walls of the hwheater. We keep waiting for the hwheater to go....that'll stink but then it will be new...

We also have both. Ours is set up to drain the recharge (salty) water under the house where it just soaks into the sand.