septic tank safe & eco type products that actually work?

[bimble]

Its been 3 years and i'm still trying to figure out how to be a happy septic tank proprietor. Nothing is broken or stinky but are there any people here who have a happy relationship with their septic tank and no longer reminisce about toxic not-allowed chemicals because they've found eco stuff that really works ?

 

[two sheds]

Is yours an onion or one of the traditional, large septic tank/cess pit?

A couple of neighbours have an onion and it needs emptying every year or so. My septic tank hasn't needed emptying in the 21 years I've lived here (plus 7 years a couple of friends lived here). I did put the Muckmunchers powders down it one year but a neighbour who knows about these things said there's no need, they just don't need it so I've not bothered again.

 

[bimble]

whaaat? 21 years??
i don't know what an onion one is but i was told i should do it every year, which is a really big hassle and a hell of a lot of money because only one company has the equipment needed to do it (am on a steep slope).

eta i dont think its an onion shaped one.

 

[Saunders]

I have a happy relationship with my septic tank in that I don’t think about it. My mother in law has also lived happily with hers and pours all sorts of noxious oven cleaner and chemicals down the drain. What toxic chemicals are you wanting to use? I find Bio D products washing up liquid and loo cleaner, method general cleaning spray, Cif (not eco) and bleach all do fine in Spector tank and do clean well

 

[bimble]

i miss bleach.

 

[Saunders]

Are you really not using bleach?

 

[two sheds]

I'm very careful that I (or visitors when I used to have them ) don't put toxic chemicals or things like wet wipes down there. Small quantities of bleach and toilet cleaner are ok (not bio washing powder), but I've got a note by the toilet saying "Please don't put anything down here that you've not eaten first (except toilet paper)" which is what my landlord said to me in one place I rented 40 years ago.

It's worth however making sure that rainwater runoff from the roof goes to a separate soakaway, and that nothing else goes to that. My kitchen sink used to go to the soakaway and two years ago (so having had a good run) the pipe blocked and it was a bugger trying to clear it. I got a plumber to change the connections, he did a superb job and I've not (touch wood) had any problems since.

Sounds like an onion if you've got to have it emptied every year. Mine is a huge tank that I've so far managed to avoid even looking into.

 

[platinumsage]

No one needs to use bleach, it's like an addiction - I used to use it with abandon but weened myself off it completely.

 

[bimble]

Are you really not using bleach?

yep really not?

 

[two sheds]

I don't use a lot of bleach but small amounts are good when soaking something that used to be white but isn't any more.

 

[bimble]

Very happy if a bit of bleach wont kill the surrounding forest, maybe i've been worrying overly about it idk, but wouldn't it go in the soakaway and just seep everywhere?
Some of the eco products just smell awful, like i really do not want the house to smell of cherries and tangerines and bergamot sod off.

 

[two sheds]

I'm not really planning to sell my place ever but there are rules about selling a house with a septic tank. I think mine's far enough away from a watercourse (etc) for it not to be a problem, but if it was I'd consider having a small waste treatment system installed - they were less expensive than I'd thought they would be when I checked.

 

[bimble]

yep, when i bought this place i went through the process of applying for the septic tank permit from whoever it was defra or similar gov department, which the previous owner had never done, and was surprised when they did grant it for the system as is, was expecting them to say no you need to install a newer system.

 

[two sheds]

Interesting thread here:

Replacing an onion septic tank

I have an onion shaped septic tank that's well over 22 years old and the baffle that separates the lower chamber from the top chamber has come loose and is now flopping about within the tank. I think some clumps of fat have now worked their way down the soakaway/drainage field and things have bec...

forum.buildhub.org.uk

Bloke saying he's had an onion type that hasn't been emptied for 20 years either. I presume it's down to the size of the thing then.

 

[two sheds]

yep, when i bought this place i went through the process of applying for the septic tank permit from whoever it was defra or similar gov department, which the previous owner had never done, and was surprised when they did grant it for the system as is, was expecting them to say no you need to install a newer system.

Yes as I say I'd assumed I'd need to have it replaced if the house was sold but was pleasantly surprised when I checked.

Septic tanks and sewage treatment plants: what you need to do

How to meet the general binding rules or apply for a permit if you have a septic tank or treatment plant - fees, application forms and exceptions

www.gov.uk

 

[two sheds]

List of things not to put into a septic tank including fat and oil (I did read beer, too, which they said apparently is difficult to digest).

 

[bimble]

Yep but what about cotton wool balls?

 

[AnnaKarpik]

I don't think you need to worry too much about what goes into the tank, ours was fine with all the usual household cleaning things other than bleach - because I don't use it - and biologicial washing powder - because allergies. I'm wondering who said it needed to be emptied once a year - the tank emptiers tend to say that, and people who think it should be emptied as soon as it looks full. Others don't empty as long as the soakaways appear to be working properly. The only problems we ever had were caused by flooding.

 

[WouldBe]

i miss bleach.

Would hydrogen peroxide work?
It would probably have broken down by the time it reaches the septic tank.

 

[bimble]

Would hydrogen peroxide work?
It would probably have broken down by the time it reaches the septic tank.

Seems like this might actually be an excellent idea.

 

[Epona]

I love that you're more worried about what might end up in your septic tank than in the rivers/ocean (which sadly is still where a lot of stuff ends up)

 

[farmerbarleymow]

My septic tank hasn't needed emptying in the 21 years I've lived here

Don't you ever go to the toilet?

 

[two sheds]

RRRRRRRRRRRregular thank you

The waste breaks down with the water seeping out of the tank under ground.

 

[bimble]

I love that you're more worried about what might end up in your septic tank than in the rivers/ocean (which sadly is still where a lot of stuff ends up)

the sea is far away and my septic tank drains into basically my garden and the lovely forest below it so yeah, if i just poured bottles of bleach down there i'm pretty sure the trees and grasses and little critters within them would quite swiftly not be ok.