# Water softener brine tank discharges directly into the storm sewer pipe

**URL:** <https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201>\
**Category:** Plumbing Inspections\
**Created:** [August 20, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201 "2014-08-20T00:44:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mkrueger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@mkrueger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mkrueger)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201/1 "2014-08-20T00:44:31Z")

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The plumbing for the sump pump discharge goes up to an elbow. From the elbow the 2 inch pipe slopes down to a 4 inch pipe. The water softener drain is connected at the top of the 2 inch sloped pipe.  
Is this acceptable?  
I know you can’t have any direct connection to a sewer line but not sure about storm sewer.

 ![Brine tank drain.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/3/3/33710e6aeb63ec9c3be28210ca4477a74f76f9bc.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![frotte](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/frotte/32/58483_2.png) [@frotte](https://forum.nachi.org/u/frotte)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201/2 "2014-08-20T00:58:33Z")

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Where does a “storm sewer” drain to?

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**Author:** ![mkrueger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@mkrueger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mkrueger)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201/3 "2014-08-20T02:40:51Z")

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To the river.

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**Author:** ![ddagostino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ddagostino/32/60136_2.png) [@ddagostino](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ddagostino)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/water-softener-brine-tank-discharges-directly-into-the-storm-sewer-pipe/89201/4 "2014-08-20T03:47:34Z")

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You need an air gap and/or indirect drain connection to prevent back siphonage or cross contamination.

A storm sewer contains contaminated, polluted or harmful water, that shouldn’t mix with potable water.

Dom.