Tips for Septic Care

Here are some things (not a complete list), that should never go into the septic tank
and leaching fields!

  1. Footing drain and ground water and sump pumps.
  2. Gutter or floor drains.
  3. Non-biodegradable products – chemicals and solids (tampons, cigarette butts,
    condoms, or other similar items, hair, bandages, rags, strings, coffee grounds
    or cereals).
  4. Paper towels and handy wipes – no matter what the box or manufacturer says!
  5. No anti-bacterial soaps – Biodegradable soaps only!  Do not use what are called
    “biocompatible soaps”.
  6. Heavy dose and long-term use of Mr. Bubbles/Dow’s spray toilet cleaner or any
    other excessively strong cleaner.
  7. Water conditioning backwash/discharge from water softener, purifier, sanitizer
    or conditioners.
  8. Dehumidifiers and air conditioner discharges.
  9. Chlorine and chemicals in excess (1 part chlorine to 5 parts of water is a good
    spray bacteria cleaner).
  10. Hot tubs and jacuzzi discharges.
  11. Excessive laundry – loads should be spaced out (one day of doing all laundry
    is a No-No!).
  12. Water from leaking fixtures including sneaky leaky toilets.  Remember to dye
    test the toilet often to check for leaks in septic system.
  13. Dirt and inert products.  Muddy clothes and vegetables should be dusted off
    before washing.  This is common sense in maintaining all types of septic systems.
  14. Chemicals from x-ray equipment discharges even if diluted, because they will
    re-condense in disposal system and pollute the underground environment
    which is illegal!
  15. Disposable baby wipes, diapers, hand and facial wipes – NO MATTER WHAT THE
    MANUFACTURER SAYS, don’t put them in.  Dispose of them in a garbage can.
  16. Hard toilet paper – use only soft toilet paper, they are closer to breaking down.
  17. Dead fish or small animals – REMEMBER, it’s a septic tank, not a cemetery.
  18. Garbage disposal units discharge.  If you must have one, then it must run
    through a separate tank first.  This is called a trash tank.  After it is installed,
    it should discharge into the septic tank or a separate leaching system and not
    directly to the existing leaching system.
  19. Hair conditioners with heavy oils – if you use them, we need to know so we can
    do something to compensate with added or different bacteria (none if they are
    not bio-degradable).
  20. Latex, plastic or metallic objects.
  21. If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it – Don’t throw it in septic tank system!)