Once the water leaves the softener it should branch into two lines.
Water softener discharge line.
It can drain to a floor drain if the floor drain is connected to a sewer.
Water softener is not softening the water.
And without recharging.
The good news is that there are water experts that will work with you to pick the water softener that is appropriate for you.
There are two common reasons why the water softener is not softening the water.
This is to prevent non potable water from flowing backwards possibly mixing and contaminating potable drinking water.
The drain from the water softener is for the rinse water that carries a fair bit of salt.
The outgoing line from the water heater then runs to interior fixtures and faucets that dispense hot water.
A softener drain line must not be connected directly to the waste system but must be emptied into a laundry tray floor drain or properly trapped special outlet preserving an air gap of at least two times the diameter of the drain line but in no case less than 1 1 2 above the top of the receptacle used.
And the second reason is the salt bridging or salt mushing.
A cold water line for outdoor water hose bibbs or other outdoor uses is taken off of the system ahead of all water treatment filters and equipment but all water entering the building flows first through the water treatment system such as a water softener or if neede a water disinfection system.
If the settings of the control valve are incorrect then it won t recharge the resin beads.
From multiple tank systems generated through the energy of moving water to a more conventional method various water softener discharge options cover all your alternatives.
If it is just going to the sump if you re on septic then you are required by code to dump the salt in the septic system.