Simple item page
 

Water Softener Regeneration Effects on the Operation of Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Preliminary Study

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-7714-9749
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0001-9954-825X
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-6602-2603
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcidc1ffc697-bf57-423f-8744-289bae6f3a38
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid3cdb61fd-4393-4d6f-8ebb-5b044a34bc3d
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid56c70f68-f635-4efe-a7ca-bb9fa1981a13
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
dc.abstract.enThere has been a large amount of scientific research carried out to date on the impact of salty backwash brine from domestic water softeners (WS) on domestic wastewater treatment plants (DWTPs). Experts and practitioners agree that the impact is harmful and there is still a need to look for new technologies. The study of the effect of an increased sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration after softener regeneration is important from the point of view of the operation of DWTPs and soil properties. This paper presents the results of a field study of the concentration of NaCl at the septic tank (ST) drainage point, into which the grey water from the regeneration of the water softener flowed. During the six-month measurements (recorded every 1 min), an increase in NaCl concentration was observed in the septic tank outflow, from an average NaCl concentration of 1.5 g·L−1—between regenerations—to an average concentration of 4.5 g·L−1—after water softener regeneration. The increased NaCl concentration decreased significantly up to 2 days after the water softener regeneration. Temperature changes in the treated wastewater were also measured—during the winter period, temperature differences of up to 10 °C per day were recorded. In the second part of the study, conducted on a semi-technical scale, the effect of brine from the regeneration of the water softener on the hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the soil from the infiltration drain of the DWTPs studied was assessed. The Ks was determined by analysing the time it took the water to soak into the soil, using the Van Hoorn equation. The results and statistical analysis indicate an increased salt content in the soil absorbing the brine, which may have been influenced by the reduced absorption and capacity of the drain due to adverse physico-chemical changes.
dc.affiliationWydział Inżynierii Środowiska i Inżynierii Mechanicznej
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Inżynierii Wodnej i Sanitarnej
dc.contributor.authorPawlak, Maciej
dc.contributor.authorPilarska, Agnieszka A.
dc.contributor.authorZimnicka, Katarzyna
dc.contributor.authorKujawiak, Sebastian
dc.contributor.authorMatz, Radosław
dc.date.access2025-06-04
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-08T07:14:16Z
dc.date.available2025-09-08T07:14:16Z
dc.date.copyright2023-02-23
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>There has been a large amount of scientific research carried out to date on the impact of salty backwash brine from domestic water softeners (WS) on domestic wastewater treatment plants (DWTPs). Experts and practitioners agree that the impact is harmful and there is still a need to look for new technologies. The study of the effect of an increased sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration after softener regeneration is important from the point of view of the operation of DWTPs and soil properties. This paper presents the results of a field study of the concentration of NaCl at the septic tank (ST) drainage point, into which the grey water from the regeneration of the water softener flowed. During the six-month measurements (recorded every 1 min), an increase in NaCl concentration was observed in the septic tank outflow, from an average NaCl concentration of 1.5 g·L−1—between regenerations—to an average concentration of 4.5 g·L−1—after water softener regeneration. The increased NaCl concentration decreased significantly up to 2 days after the water softener regeneration. Temperature changes in the treated wastewater were also measured—during the winter period, temperature differences of up to 10 °C per day were recorded. In the second part of the study, conducted on a semi-technical scale, the effect of brine from the regeneration of the water softener on the hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the soil from the infiltration drain of the DWTPs studied was assessed. The Ks was determined by analysing the time it took the water to soak into the soil, using the Van Hoorn equation. The results and statistical analysis indicate an increased salt content in the soil absorbing the brine, which may have been influenced by the reduced absorption and capacity of the drain due to adverse physico-chemical changes.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if2,5
dc.description.number5
dc.description.points100
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume13
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/app13052853
dc.identifier.issn2076-3417
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/4660
dc.identifier.weblinkhttp://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/5/2853
dc.languageen
dc.relation.ispartofApplied Sciences (Switzerland)
dc.relation.pagesart. 2853
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudnosend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enDWTPs
dc.subject.enseptic tank
dc.subject.enwater softener
dc.subject.ensodium chloride concentration
dc.subject.ensoil hydraulic conductivity
dc.titleWater Softener Regeneration Effects on the Operation of Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Preliminary Study
dc.title.volumeSpecial Issue Hydrology and Water Resources
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue5
oaire.citation.volume13