Antibacterial Septic Issues

Kenison · 01-26-2010, 08:50 PM

I was told last week that people using anti bacterial products to wash clothing dishes and as a household cleaner can expect to have septic problems after a few years. Does anyone have any information on this?

**Reedwalker** · 01-26-2010, 10:23 PM

I don't know anything about this subject but it seems plausible.

Call the Mythbusters!

**waterwelldude** · 01-26-2010, 11:41 PM

The hand washing soap and a few of the other products that are antibacterial, are in such small amounts, that it will not hurt the system.

If it is an established system, (6 months to a year old) It takes a lot to stop the process from doing it job. Washing hands and a few loads of laundry is not going to do any amount of harm to the septic.

If you poured a gallon of bleach down the drain, it would slow the septic process,(anaerobic) but not stop it.

Travis

Conway · 01-27-2010, 03:17 PM

I would want to see that on Mythbusters. They should have a plumbing special.

**majakdragon** · 01-27-2010, 04:29 PM

Considering the fact that most septic tanks are 800 gallons or larger, it would take a lot of any chemical to kill all the bacteria. Common sense rules here.

Dennis/Ohio · 04-10-2010, 04:08 PM

I read a article once. Don't remember where. I think it was a university that keep dumping bleach into a septic tank until all bacteria action was stopped. They checked it the 24 hours later and it was alive again.
Every time I've heard of dead bacteria in a tank it was traced back to medication. Someone in the house was taking a antibiotic. I think thats amazing that a small dose of a patients medication can do that when pounding it with bleach can't.

**waterwelldude** · 04-11-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis/Ohio

Every time I've heard of dead bacteria in a tank it was traced back to medication. Someone in the house was taking a antibiotic. I think thats amazing that a small dose of a patients medication can do that when pounding it with bleach can't.

There are some types of heart meds. that will also kill the bacteria in a septic.

donald1 · 04-14-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterwelldude

There are some types of heart meds. that will also kill the bacteria in a septic.

what type of heart meds.

01-27-2010, 04:29 PM	#5
majakdragon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 182	Considering the fact that most septic tanks are 800 gallons or larger, it would take a lot of any chemical to kill all the bacteria. Common sense rules here. __________________ If you have never made a mistake, you probably haven't done much.

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01-26-2010, 10:23 PM	#2
Reedwalker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 156	I don't know anything about this subject but it seems plausible. Call the Mythbusters!

01-26-2010, 11:41 PM	#3
waterwelldude Water well,and septic guy Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: S.E.Texas Posts: 53	The hand washing soap and a few of the other products that are antibacterial, are in such small amounts, that it will not hurt the system. If it is an established system, (6 months to a year old) It takes a lot to stop the process from doing it job. Washing hands and a few loads of laundry is not going to do any amount of harm to the septic. If you poured a gallon of bleach down the drain, it would slow the septic process,(anaerobic) but not stop it. Travis

01-27-2010, 03:17 PM	#4
Conway Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 187	I would want to see that on Mythbusters. They should have a plumbing special.

04-10-2010, 04:08 PM	#6
Dennis/Ohio Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 9	I read a article once. Don't remember where. I think it was a university that keep dumping bleach into a septic tank until all bacteria action was stopped. They checked it the 24 hours later and it was alive again. Every time I've heard of dead bacteria in a tank it was traced back to medication. Someone in the house was taking a antibiotic. I think thats amazing that a small dose of a patients medication can do that when pounding it with bleach can't.