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Tips for septic care
Here are some things (not a complete list) that should not ever 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 or cereals).
- Paper towels and handy wipes; no matter what the box or manufacturer, etc. says!
- No anti-bacterial soaps - Biodegradable soaps only! Do not use what is called "biocompatible soaps".
- Heavy dose and long-term use of Mr. Bubbles/Dow’s spray toilet cleaner or any other excessively strong cleaner.
- Water conditioning backwashes / discharge from water softener, & purifier, sanitizer or conditioners
- Dehumidifiers and air conditioner discharges
- Chlorine and chemicals in excess (1 part chlorine 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 applies to
common senses 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
eventually pollute the underground environment which is illegal!
- Disposable baby wipes / diapers / hand and facial wipes - NO MATTER WHAT 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 not bio-degradable).
- Latex, plastic or metallic objects - (If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it - Don’t throw it in septic tank system!)
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