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Don't Kill Your Tank's Digestion Ability

Writer's picture: Geoff ScullyGeoff Scully

After a recent barbecue supper my host, whose experience in such matters was limited to municipal sewer systems, commented that a septic system might be okay for one or two people. But according to him, five people would simply fill the tank too quickly and create a problem. It was clear that he viewed the tank as a static holding tank for solids rather than an active and dynamic processing location where bacteria continually break down the solids. A very healthy tank "microbiota" means that, after a three to five year pumping interval, there are few solids and a minimal sludge layer at the bottom. According to Wikipedia, "Up to 60% of the dry mass of feces is bacteria." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_microbiota So there's plenty of raw material to seed the septic digestion process. But excessive use of anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning products, especially Ajax, Comet, and chlorine bleach can kill off the bacteria your tank needs to do its job. So try not to overuse these products in an obsessive, germ-killing frenzy. If cleaning a sink with Comet, for example, try using a minimum of water, then wiping with paper towels before rinsing. Being careful about what goes out to your septic system will keep it healthy and better able to perform its job of water purification.

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