Tips for Septic Care
Here are some things (not a complete list), that should never go into the septic tank
and leaching fields!
- Footing drain and ground water and sump pumps.
- Gutter or floor drains.
- Non-biodegradable products – chemicals and solids (tampons, cigarette butts,
condoms, or other similar items, hair, bandages, rags, strings, coffee grounds
- Paper towels and handy wipes – no matter what the box or manufacturer says!
- No anti-bacterial soaps – Biodegradable soaps only! Do not use what are called
- Heavy dose and long-term use of Mr. Bubbles/Dow’s spray toilet cleaner or any
other excessively strong cleaner.
- Water conditioning backwash/discharge from water softener, purifier, sanitizer
- Dehumidifiers and air conditioner discharges.
- Chlorine and chemicals in excess (1 part chlorine to 5 parts of water is a good
spray bacteria cleaner).
- Hot tubs and jacuzzi discharges.
- Excessive laundry – loads should be spaced out (one day of doing all laundry
is a No-No!).
- Water from leaking fixtures including sneaky leaky toilets. Remember to dye
test the toilet often to check for leaks in septic system.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- Hard toilet paper – use only soft toilet paper, they are closer to breaking down.
- Dead fish or small animals – REMEMBER, it’s a septic tank, not a cemetery.
- 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.
- 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
- Latex, plastic or metallic objects.
- If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it – Don’t throw it in septic tank system!)