Understanding Septic Systems

The word, "septic," means "full of bacteria," not, "without oxygen," as claimed in the article, but in a septic tank, there's not a lot of chance for oxygen to get in and that's why there's a build up of poisonous gases, which can be fatal if inhaled. Because it is the bacteria that purify the water, be sure not to harm them.

In addition to the other commenters' suggestions, be aware of what you are using to clean your tubs, sinks and toilets. Bleach and bleach-containing products kill bacteria. Don't use anti-bacterial soaps. Anti-bacterial soaps, by the way don't kill the bacteria on your hands, unless you soak your hands in them for at least 15 minutes, so the addition of antiseptics in soap is a marketing gimmick. You can extend the time period between pumping the system by only using the septic for urine and feces. Don't use the toilet for a trash can. If you blow your nose, even on tp, put that in the trash can. Some food will make it down the kitchen sink, but use a strainer and toss as much as you can into the composter. You already know about laundry. Never, ever, drain grease or oil down the sink. I dump especially dirty, greasy dish water in the yard. Oh and, sorry fellas, contrary to the claim, peeing outside may be more convenient and save cleaning, but it doesn't save the septic, unless you pass a lot of stones.

I've just bought a home that's on septic and want to build a vegetable garden in raised beds in the yard. There won't be any digging involved but the wooden beds will be located above the septic system. Does anyone know if this can cause problems to the system?

Thanks a lot for any info.

the bleach used in the washing machine can kill the bacteria in the septic tank and the detergent doesn't help either. this is grey water and doesn't have to be connected to the septic system. it is best to run this grey water in a different holding tank. grey water is not regulated by the local county environmental department, so you can drain this grey water in a 50 gallon drum or the pasture, yard or whatever. Add yeast to your septic system to keep the bacteria active.

Responding to the comment on water from clothes washers clogging a system with lint, I might suggest that a grey water system channeling the drain from the clothes washer to a garden or orchard might be a positive alternative. Here in the Chihuahuan desert, we try to use water twice. Of course, this choice will necessitate care in soap selection and avoidance of bleach. Our trees love the extra water.

Interesting. This article reads as if my local Chamber of Commerce wrote it for the only septic cleaning company within 200 miles. I have been using an organic liquid called FLOW which I have ordered from Gardens Alive for years. When I rebuilt a few years ago, I called the local company to check and clean out my system. Ther4e was maybe 12 inches for them to clean out. Of course the septic cleaner tried to get me to sign up for regular cleanings and told me that FLOW was useless. Interesting. I have no standing water, the tank was not even half full after over 10-15 years of having been cleaned, and there is never any smell from the exhaust pipe! No thanks! I do not care to fall for the "big vaccum cleaner service" with FLOW around!

There many more simple, gravity model septic systems, that still function decades later,
because owners use them properly---avoid clay-based cleaning agents, avoid putting in any antibacterials, etc.

It is a shame that technology-laden models, far more expensive, have only shown that the added technology helps them fail faster, pollute more. The industry has been working on strangle-holding to keep the inefficient models going--they make big money.

It takes lots of concerted efforts to get rules changed to allow more sensible alternatives.

Septic systems as commonly used,are guaranteed to fail, eventually.
They are also guaranteed to eventually pollute ground and water sources nearby.
Anything that can help keep the system aerobic, helps break things down, helps keep system clear longer.
Many products allowed to go into a septic system also help clog it.
Using biodegradable products; liquid soaps and detergents, help keep the system going far longer than the dry powdered Disinfectants kill bacteria in the system, as they do on your skin--so these will harm the septic system. Small amounts monthly do little damage, while daily or weekly use more rapidly damages bacteria counts in the system.

Aerobic bacteria need oxygen, break down solids faster, have less disease-causing capability. These will only grow where oxygen is--that is, they will stay within the waste system if oxygen is supplied there, and only within the top few inches of soils in the leach field.
These cultures are far less likely to contaminate deep soil or water.

Anaerobic bacteria do not need oxygen, can break down solids, but are more often also disease-causing. These will not grow if oxygen is present.
These cultures WILL migrate though deeper soil and into water, where oxygen is bound by hydrogen.
These are the ones that cause septic systems to eventually contaminate far-reaching swaths of ground and water tables.

There is a septic system additional component to fix this:
The Sludgehammer,
http://www.sludgehammer.net/
That aerates the tank continually, uses specific aerobic bacteria to insure through breakdown of solids.
This system has proven to rehabilitate totally clogged leach fields and the tanks.
These cannot undo decades of clay deposits in septics though.
But most cloggage is due to biological solids--for these, Sludgehammer excels!
But, you will have to either lobby your health department and legislators to get rules changed to allow these, or, do it under the table, in some areas [WA

In the mid 1980's in Royal Oak MI a house was discovered still on a never maintained septic system. Unfortunately the occupants had been billed for city sewer service since 1923.It took over two weeks to calculate the refund and compund interest due to the resident for this error. The city did not charge them for the sewer hook up either!