This article will cover how salt can clog a cesspool. Some homeowners end up with a property that had been in existence since the use of the cesspool system. The cesspool is a wastewater system that is similar to the modern septic system. It just doesn’t have an outflow pipe. Instead, it is surrounded by perforations that allow the pre-treated effluent to flow into the surrounding soil absorption system. When the cesspool is optimal, it receives wastewater from the household. The wastewater is both grey water and black water. Grey water comes from drains, sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines. Black water comes from the toilets. The cesspool then pre-treats the wastewater with the help of the anaerobic bacteria. They break down the solid waste materials allowing the clear effluent to pass through the perforations that lead to the soil absorption system without any problem at all. Like the modern septic system, the cesspool is also prone to malfunctions. The most common problem you could have with your cesspit is clogging.
Clogging can be caused by salt. Salt here is present in the water softeners that you use. Hard water is a common issue in many households. If you have a hard water crisis, you use more soap, time, and water. This equates to more money and effort spent on washing or cleaning. It can be very frustrating to wash with hard water. If you use more water, you add to the water load of your cesspit. As more water enters the cesspit, the solid waste materials are stirred up. The sludge and solids cannot be broken down by the anaerobic bacteria at a normal pace. Because of this, the solid particles just float around in the cesspit until they are pushed into the surrounding soil absorption area. It also alters your budget if you have a hard water crisis. Your budget could be severely affected because you would have larger water bill. You also spend more on soap. You should use water softeners to reduce the amount of calcium present in the water. By doing so it will make it easier to wash with.
Salt or sodium carbonate is present in water softeners. It has a weaker ion strength than the calcium and magnesium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions attach immediately to the beads in the water softener system. They are then flushed out of the water supply system. The salt ions replace the calcium and magnesium ones in the water. The water then becomes softened water that is very easy to use. You could then be able to use your time better. Unfortunately using water softeners tend to make your cesspit saturated with salt. Experts say that freshwater organisms like your cesspit bacteria cannot survive in saltwater systems. When you have a hard water problem, you tend to use salt water all the time. Bacteria should live in an aquatic environment. If salt is added to the water that surrounds the bacteria, the salt absorbs all the moisture from bacterial cells, killing them all. You should ask your septic expert about your hard water problem so that they could incorporate special additives into your cesspit that will keep it functional even if you use water softeners all the time.
You should also opt for eco-friendly or bacteria-friendly detergents so that the bacteria in your cesspit could remain safe. Regular cleaners usually have harsh chemicals that kill off bacteria in your cesspit. This will not help your resident bacteria survive the water softening process. You should also make sure that you adhere to the regular pump out schedule that you have established with your septic expert. The pump out action will remove any excess salt that may still be left in the cesspit. Include cesspit cleaning with the pump out so that you could be sure that all accumulated salt will be removed before a new cycle starts once again. You should definitely know how salt can clog a cesspool. This will make you more aware of the cesspool that you have. Water softeners indeed save you money but you should know how to use them properly so that your cesspool will always remain safe all the time.