Your septic system wasn't designed to handle chemical waste. Things like pesticides, oil wastes, fertilizer, and fuel residues should not go down the drain. Here are some of the bad things that may happen if you dispose of chemicals in the sewer tank.
Effect on Septic Tank Efficiency
One of the first adverse effects of disposing chemicals in the septic system is that it will affect the balance of microorganisms in the septic tank. On the surface, this may not seem like such a big deal, but it is if you understand the operation of the septic system. What happens is that once the sewer wastes reach the septic tank, they are acted upon by microorganisms that break down the wastes into relatively harmless substances.
Unfortunately, you will be killing these microorganisms if you direct chemicals to the septic tank. This means your tank won't be breaking down waste products as efficiently as it should, and the septic drain field will be polluted. The inadequate breakdown of the wastes may also cause the tank to fill up faster than usual.
Ground Water Contamination
There are two ways in which chemical disposal in the septic system can cause groundwater contamination. First, as described above, the death of "good" microorganisms in the tank (those responsible for breaking down wastes) will force the septic drain field to accept polluted water, which may leach down to the groundwater. Secondly, the chemicals themselves will be disposed of along with the wastes, therefore contaminating the groundwater too. Both of these (the untreated wastes and the chemicals) can, for example, reach a nearby well water and affect its users.
Effect on Exposed Plants and Animals
Lastly, both of the above effects of septic chemical disposal can end up with affected plant and animal life. Here are some of the ways in which this can happen:
Hopefully, you haven't been disposing of chemicals in your drains. If you have, then you should consider getting your septic tank pumped and cleaned so that you can start using it again without the issue of chemicals. For more information, contact your local septic tank cleaning service.
Share23 September 2018
Hi there, I am Wes Nelson. When I lived in my first home, I discovered the plumbing connected directly to a septic system on the land. The septic system consisted of a tank, lines and leach field that processed the waste. I had to quickly learn how the septic system worked to keep it in good shape. I had to pay close attention to the substances I sent down the drains or flushed down the toilet. I did not want to disrupt the colonies of bacteria hard at work processing the waste products. On this site, I would like to help others keep their septic system in good working order by sharing the information I discovered. Please visit again soon.
