Dry well? (Holden: contractors, live, softener)

[fabdog]

Greetings-

we are moving to the Holden area next month. We want to put in a water softener (the well water is pretty hard) and were told we'd need a dry well. These look on the web like "mini septic" systems.

What type of contractors do this type of work? Well companies? Septic companies?

Thanks

Mike

[smarty]

water softener system is to take out hard minerals (like iron, calcium and magnesium) in the water (from any source) to prevent staining of clothes. I do not think it requires a dry well to get rid of the water discharged. My understanding water softener is only sodium water and can be discharged into septic or drain like regular shower/flushing of toilet. Dry well takes care of the stormwater runoff... where there are a lot of water coming in a small amount of time... and takes some time to discharge.

[fabdog]

I understand. I have been told that in Massachusetts it is required to have a dry well to discharge water softener. I have never seen this any where else. So was asking what type of contractor can do this type of work?

Thanks!!

[Time2Settle]

- I don't know where your water softner is located (garage, basement, 1st floor laundry room, etc) Depending on where it is located will depend on the extent of service required to properly adapt it to the dry well, which might include drilling through the foundation if it's located in the basement, or running addition plumbing from another location. My guess is that it is somewhere convient to you....just remember that location might effect the cost involved in installing it.
- So, consider a plumber, and someone to the dig the dry well and construct it--which is no more than cement blocks and crushed stone in about a 4'-5' hole. If you are "handy" you can install a dry well by yourself, and then just hire a plumber to lay the line....if you don't fell comfortable doing that. I would call around some septic servicers, they can do it too! They probably won't plumb it though. When I lived in MA, South Coast, I installed a dry well myself for the sake of saving my septic system from any laundry detergents that could shorten the life of the septic..Shhhhh, can't do that now...I don't think. Ask one of the MANY contractors you will have to deal with in MA to get this done. Good Luck