The environmental issue with water softeners is not their effect on septic tanks, but the amount of water they waste and the effect of chloride on reclaimed water and agriculture. Do you realize that the Canandian WQA is the trade group for the softener industry? Cities and counties in Califoria have rebate programs to remover softeners (San Bernadino) and one city has succefully passed a law to have them removed (Santa Clarita) See the news article. http://www.wwdmag.com/California-Voters-Approve-Santa-Clarita-Softener-Ban-newsPiece17017.

Even if the water to the sink is by-passed so it is not softened, what about the water in other faucets and the water that you shower in.
Water softeners are not healthy and are bad for the environment.

Thank you for leaving the comment, Pau.

It is true that no one needs a water softener.  Hard water is an aesthetic concern only, and indeed does have health benefits to the user in the form of higher levels of needed minerals.  I encourage anyone who is considering having a softener installed instead purchase more soap, and live with hard water.

California must have very hard water for the softeners to have that high of an effect on chlorides in natural water tables.  I do not know much of the hydrogeology of California.  I do understand that the water tables in most of the United States have dropped significantly, concentrating much of the naturally occuring (and some not so naturally occuring) contaminants in the water.

I am familiar with the hydrogeology where I’m from.  The majority of chlorides and sodium come from the practice of road salting. Indeed, one of our well sites is experiencing elevated sodium that can be traced directly back to a salt storage yard upstream of it.  We have corrected that by building a new and leak proof storage shed.

I do agree that softeners are a waste of water, due to their regeneration cycles.  I would comment though, that the way we use water in general is wasteful.  Our bathing practices, washing practices and industrial use of water is very high.  Even our low flow toilets use three times more water in one flush than the average third world African does in a day.

In closing, I agree that there is no need for water softeners.  I would argue that stopping the use of water softeners is only a small step to reducing water waste and contamination of water supplies, but it is a step in the right direction.