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Septic Tank Maintenance: Other Chemicals That Should NOT Be Flushed into a Septic Tank
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• List of other chemicals & substances that we have seen dumped into septic systems and in one case, into a well - don't do this!
• Do not use septic tanks, wells, even abandoned wells and septic tanks to dispose of chemicals

What items and chemicals are NOT safe to flush down the toilet and into a private septic system besides normal household cleaners and household chemicals? This document explains how to extend the life of the septic system by being careful about what goes into it.

Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical review, content suggestions, critique are welcomed and are listed at "References." This document is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. Also see CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER for a discussion of chemical contaminants in drinking water and see WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

OTHER CHEMICALS TO KEEP OUT OF SEPTIC TANKS- Effects of Other Chemicals Flushed Into a Septic Systems:

• Chemicals, Oils, Paints: Do not flush these chemicals into the septic system in any quantity:
• Furniture polish
• Oils such as used motor oil or unwanted cooking oil
• Paints of any kind, latex, oil, alkyd, acrylic, water-based
• Pesticides
• Photo chemicals
• Thinners (such as paint thinner)
• Varnishes
• Antibiotics and Septic Systems Normal use of antibiotics by occupants in a one or two family residence with a septic system will not harm the septic tank or fields. High levels of discharge of antibiotics in urine and body waste from many building occupants using such drugs, such as at a nursing home with 50 residents and an onsite septic system, can kill bacteria in the septic tank and leach field and thus may indeed be a problem for such facilities. See DRUGS INTO the SEPTIC TANK? for details.
• Hydrochloric acid HCL poured into a well: a reader explained that his plumber poured several gallons of pure HCL into the well to attempt to free a pump that seemed to be stuck in the well casing. The plumber eventually got the pump free - we're not sure the hydrochloric acid was what did the trick - the pump may have been stuck at the pitless adapter which protrudes into the well casing.
  
  In any case the plumber has contaminated the well and worse, probably s/he has contaminated the local aquifer with a toxic chemical. We were left with no advice but to hope that dilution will eventually reduce the effect of this stupid move, and that the owner should test his well water for HCL.
  
  Since the owner and plumber ran lots of water to "flush out" the well, they've moved at least some of the acid into the owner's septic system and local groundwater where it contaminates the area further. Our opinion was that it was probably better to move the HCL as much as possible out of the well by any means rather than contaminate the aquifer for this well and perhaps for the neighbors.
• Illegal Drug Manufacturing and Septic Systems: Anecdotally we report on a septic system in New York near the Taconic State Parkway was connected to house in which was operated an illegal drug manufacturing operation - perhaps a "meth lab". So much drug-production-related contaminant was flushed down house drains that the workers contaminated their own well and poisoned themselves.
• Motor oil poured into a drinking well: at a home inspection we discovered two well casings near a driveway. One was a well that was in-use providing water to the home. We noticed that the other casing was un-capped and asked the property owner what was up. He explained that he did a lot of work on his own cars and trucks, and that when he changed the oil, he figured that a great way to dispose of unwanted motor oil was to dump it into the old un-used well.
  
  Do not dump motor oil into your well. You'll contaminate the local aquifer. Take used motor oil to almost any garage or gas station where they are required to dispose of it legally and safely. (They may charge you a small fee.) This is a great example of why unused water wells should be abandoned properly, including sealing the well against surface-generated contaminants.
• Pesticides and Septic Systems: people who need to dispose of un-used pesticides should not put them in building drains or toilets. In the U.S. contact your state department of environment or local health department to find the nearest local hazardous waste disposal station where you can usually drop off unwanted chemicals, paint, etc., often at no charge.
• Subtle phthalates contamination of groundwater and wells from phthalates: in a compelling article in the New York Times in July 2009 Nicholas D. Kristof reported on the possible hazards of phthalates, chemicals that can leach into their contents and thence into the environment from some plastic food or water containers, or even toys. While we have not found any research whatsoever that tests for the appearance of pthalates in septic systems and the ground water into which septic effluent ultimately appears, we recommend prudent avoidance of phthalate containing plastics for foods or beverages. Mr. Kristof pointed out that "These aer ubiquitous in modern life ... -- and many scientists have linked them to everything from sexual deformities in babies to obesity and diabetes." Readers interested in the subtle but powerful effects of hormone mimicing chemicals and endocrine disruptors that appear in the environment, their sources, effects, and risks, should also see Our Stolen Future, Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

WHAT CAN GO INTO TOILETS & DRAINS?
NEVER FLUSH INTO SEPTICS
BETTER NOT TO FLUSH
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
OTHER CHEMICALS
CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER
CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER
DISHWASHERS vs SEPTICS
DRUGS INTO the SEPTIC TANK?
GARBAGE GRINDERS vs SEPTICS
REVERSE OSMOSIS CONCENTRATE DISPOSAL
TOILET TISSUE?
TOILET TISSUE TEST
WASHING MACHINES
WATER SOFTENERS
* NO FLUSH SUMMARY LIST

• "Chemicals and Our Health", Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 16 July 2009, p. 27. This outstanding editorial calls for improvements in public health policy to address phthalates and other environmental contaminants from common chemicals and products in everyday use. - DJ Friedman
• Our Stolen Future, Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers, Plume-Penguin Publishing, 1997, ISBN 0-452-27414-1. This book is a seminal work on endocrine disruptors (chemical contaminants having impact at extremely low levels in the environment).
  Amazon.com Review: By O T (Ontario, BC) - 'Our Stolen Future' is a great introduction to one of the most important scientific discoveries in our time. Having recently completed a thesis project at university on Endocrine Disruptors, I have reviewed hundreds of papers on the subject. This book is a good clear overview of the scientific literature on EDs. The authors are experts - Theo Colborn is largely responsible for creating the field by bringing together diverse researchers so they could see the big picture of their work. Many of the principle investigators are interviewed and quoted at length on the way chemicals participate in and interfere with delicate hormonal systems in animals (including humans). The major accomplishment of the book is to make an easy-to-follow story out of complex research. Many resources are available to help you assess the reliability of this story, and the best thing to do if you have any doubts is read review articles in scientific journals (which are easier to understand than technical papers). The Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) have a guidebook for health-care professionals on Endocrine Disruptors, and the US EPA has many reports on the matter. Beware of people or websites who try to 'debunk' this book (or the science behind it) by simply declaring it false, flawed or disproven. There is far too much supporting research for so simple a refutation.
  
• Silent Spring, Rachael Carson, Mariner Books; Anv edition (October 22, 2002), ISBN-13: 978-061824906.
  Amazon.com Review: Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work.
  

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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems


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• Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location


• Additives & Chemicals: Septic System Maintenance - Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
• Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• Cheating on Water Tests - (Chlorine in Wells and Septics) Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - Water Test Cheating Warnings for Home Buyers and Home Inspectors
• Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
• What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
• Contamination in Buildings how to test buildings for bacterial contamination from Sewage and Septic backup, remediation, & references
• Leach Field Inspection Procedure Septic Leach Fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures - what causes septic field failure?
• Maintenance: Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Sewage & Septic Backups and what to do about sewage spillage in buildings
• Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Water Usage: Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Typical residential water usage for people, appliances, and activities.

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