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Quick answer
Only human waste, toilet paper and normal amounts of household wastewater should go into an aerobic septic system. Wipes, grease, paint, solvents, medications, heavy bleach loads and anything that does not break down should stay out. Aerobic bacteria need steady oxygen and food, so harsh chemicals and big surges of water can upset the treatment process.
An aerobic septic system is a small treatment plant in your yard. Instead of simply holding waste the way a conventional tank does, it keeps bacteria alive and working by blowing air into the tank. What you send down the drain is what those bacteria have to deal with, which is why the rules for an aerobic system are a little stricter than most homeowners expect. If you are new to the technology, start with what an aerobic septic system is.
Why are aerobic bacteria so sensitive?
Aerobic bacteria are living organisms. They need three things: oxygen from the air pump, a steady supply of organic waste to eat, and a liquid that is not poisoned. Remove any one of those and the treatment slows down.
A single strong chemical dose can kill off a large part of the colony, and it takes time for the population to rebuild. In the meantime the water leaving the tank is not treated as well, filters can clog, and odors can show up. The same is true when the system is flooded with a day of laundry or a leaking toilet: the water moves through too fast for the bacteria to finish their work.
What is safe to put into an aerobic septic system?
- Human waste and toilet paper. Septic-safe, quick-dissolving paper is the easy choice.
- Normal amounts of water from showers, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines, spread out over the week.
- Reasonable amounts of everyday soap, shampoo, detergent and dish soap.
- Small amounts of food scrap rinsed off plates.
What should never go down the drain or toilet?
- Wipes of any kind. Baby wipes, cleaning wipes and the ones labeled flushable do not break down like paper. They wrap around pump impellers and float switches and are one of the most common causes of a service call.
- Grease, fats and cooking oil. They cool, harden and coat the tank, filters and dispersal lines.
- Paint, thinner, solvents, gasoline, pesticides and automotive fluids. These are toxic to the bacteria and to your soil.
- Medications. Leftover pills and liquids belong in a take-back program, not in the tank.
- Feminine products, diapers, dental floss, cotton swabs, condoms and cat litter. None of these decompose in a useful time frame.
- Coffee grounds, eggshells, bones and large amounts of food waste. They add solids that the system has to pump out later.
- Cigarette butts, rags, paper towels and tissues made with wet-strength resin.
Are cleaning products and bleach okay?
Ordinary household cleaning in normal amounts is fine, because the wastewater from the whole house dilutes everything. The trouble is concentration and volume. Pouring undiluted drain cleaner, a gallon of bleach for a mildew job, or several toilet-bowl cleaners in a row into a tank that holds living bacteria is a bad idea.
- Choose cleaners with simple labels and use them as directed, not by the capful.
- Space heavy cleaning out. Do not scrub every bathroom the same afternoon.
- Avoid in-tank toilet cleaning tablets that sit and dissolve into every flush.
- If your system uses a chlorine tablet for disinfection before spray dispersal, use only what your maintenance provider tells you to use, and never drop household bleach tablets into the tank.
- Skip septic additives unless your provider recommends one. A healthy aerobic system does not need a bottle of bacteria added each month.
Can I use a garbage disposal with an aerobic system?
It is possible, but it is not a good habit. A disposal grinds food into small pieces, but ground food is still solids. Those solids settle in the tank, take oxygen to break down, and fill the tank faster. That usually means more frequent pumping and more load on the filter.
If you already have a disposal, use it sparingly for small plate scraps and put the rest in the trash or a compost pile. Never put grease, coffee grounds, rice, pasta or fibrous vegetables like celery and corn husks through it.
How does water use affect the system?
Aerobic systems are designed around a daily flow. When water arrives in a steady trickle, the bacteria keep up. When it arrives in a flood, treatment suffers and the pump may cycle too often.
- Spread laundry across the week instead of doing every load on one day.
- Fix running toilets and dripping faucets. A small leak adds up to a lot of water every day.
- Do not route roof gutters, sump pumps, pool backwash or a water-softener discharge into the system unless it was designed for it. Ask us before you plumb anything new into the tank.
- Going on vacation? A system that sits idle is fine for a short time, but let your maintenance provider know about long absences or a houseful of guests.
What else should you protect?
Keep the air pump running. It should never be turned off to save power, because the bacteria die without oxygen. Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off the tank and dispersal area, keep sprinkler heads clear, and keep the control panel accessible. If the alarm goes off, see what to do when your aerobic alarm light comes on.
If a wipe or a chemical has already gone down the drain, you do not need to panic. Stop the habit, tell your maintenance provider on the next visit, and call us if you notice odors, slow drains or an alarm. Our maintenance contracts include checking the pumps, filters and floats, and our alarm repair service covers the rest. For anything else, call Brown Aerobic at 832-789-5357.
Quick questions and answers
- Are flushable wipes really safe for an aerobic septic system?
No. Wipes labeled flushable still do not break down the way toilet paper does. They collect in the tank, wrap around pumps and floats, and can trigger alarms. Put every kind of wipe in the trash.
- Can I use bleach in a house with an aerobic septic system?
Normal laundry and cleaning use is generally fine because the water is diluted. Avoid large doses, undiluted bleach and repeated heavy cleaning on the same day, since strong chemicals can harm the bacteria that treat the waste.
- Should I add bacteria or enzymes to my aerobic tank?
Usually not. A properly running aerobic system keeps its own bacteria alive with oxygen and regular waste. Ask your maintenance provider before adding any product.
- Does a garbage disposal hurt an aerobic system?
It adds extra solids that fill the tank faster and increase the load on the bacteria. Light use is possible, but scraping plates into the trash is easier on the system.
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