InspectAPedia ^®

Disinfection of Septic Effluent Discharged from Aerobic Septic Systems - use of Swimming Pool Chemicals InspectAPedia®  -     What are the proper disinfectants to use in aerobic septic systems? Fines levied for use of swimming pool chemicals in septic systems. Septic system and sewage discharge causing coliform hazards to oyster beds.

Disinfection of Septic Effluent Discharged from Aerobic Septic Systems

Use of proper and approved septic effluent disinfectants is required for aerobic septic systems. This article, contributed by a company which produces aerobic septic system disinfectants, explains that while some aerobic septic system operators may have used ordinary swimming pool chlorine tablets for this purpose, such use is improper and illegal according to the U.S. EPA.

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 by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers welcomed and are listed at "References."

Readers of this page should also see Aerobic Septic Systems: Calcium Hypochlorite for Disinfections In Onsite Aerobic Waste Treatment Septic Systems. This document is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.

© 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.

It is a violation of federal law to use swimming pool products for the "treatment" of septic effluent in aerobic septic systems. Environmental Protection Agency personnel are targeting the misapplication of chlorine products for more stringent enforcement.

According to the EPA. spokesman, use of swimming pool chlorine products in the treatment of wastewater effluent is a violation of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Sections 136a-2g and 136j(a)2g. The FIFRA regulations essentially state anyone who is using a chlorine product for applications other than those stated on the product's labeling is potentially subject to a fine and/or imprisonment.

Individual users can be fined $500 or first offenses and $2000 for subsequent violations. Suppliers, dealers, distributors and manufacturers are subject to much more severe penalties - up to $25,000 in fines. Prison sentences can vary from 30 days to a maximum of one year.

EPA Regional branch managers have stated their offices intend to coordinate efforts of both federal and state inspection and enforcement organizations. On the federal level, these include the local EPA offices and the U.S. Coast Guard and Minerals Management Service. In Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia state agencies involved in the crackdown are the Departments of Agriculture and the Departments of Environmental Quality.

Coliform bacteria has become a major threat to oyster beds and other vital seafood resources in Louisiana and to public health in general throughout the country.

The technology exists to combat the problem but implementation of its use has been slow in developing DEQ and Department of Agriculture personnel are working to see that permitted treatment facilities are working properly and utilizing approved chemicals and equipment to process their organic waste.

Industrial waste water treatment suppliers can easily protect their customers and themselves from exposure to enforcement of the EPA regulations by providing them with chlorine products that are properly registered and labeled for specific wastewater applications. Equipment manufacturers can avoid similar headaches by providing their clients with hardware that conforms to standards established by the state and federal regulatory agencies.

By careful attention to the laws currently in place, all involved in correcting the deficiencies of the past can do so safely and legally.

Contribution via web 6/13/2006, edited by Daniel Friedman 8/23/06 © 2009 - 2006 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, electronic or otherwise is strictly prohibited unless written permission has been obtained.

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

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.

SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
  Wastewater Treatment Levels
  Wastewater Dispersal Methods
  Master List of Septic System Types
  AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS
    ATU Tank Sizes
    ATU Final Treatment
    ATU Certifications
    ATU Problems
    ATU Failure Rates, Costs
    ATU Maintenance Procedures
    Aerobic Septic Disinfectants- Calcium Hypochlorite
    Aerobic Septic Disinfectants-Pool Chlorine
    ATU Suppliers

• Original Author: Maurice Davis, Product Line Manager,Water Utility Chemicals, Inc.
  Aerobic Chlorine Division, PO Box 1057, Caldwell, TX 77836, 979-567-7960 maurice@wucinc.com

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Aerobic Septic System Disinfection with Calcium Hypochlorite - Use of calcium hypochlorite tablets for aerobic septic systems
• Aerobic Septic System Disinfection with Chlorine Tablets - US EPA declares use of swimming pool chlorine tablets illegal for septic system disinfection
• Aerobic Septic Systems - A Design Alternative for Difficult Sites
• Design Alternatives for Septic Systems: Alternate Onsite Wastewater Disposal Designs for Septic Systems - design engineers, consultants, products, books for special problem situations, difficult soils, old system repairs. Aerobic septic systems, chemical, composting, incinerating & waterless toilets, Evaporation-Transpiration (ET) Septic Systems, septic media filters, greywater systems, holding tank septic systems, mound septics, raised bed septics, pressure dosing septic systems, sand bed filters, peat beds, constructed wetlands, septic disinfection systems.
• 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
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
• Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
• How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
• Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.

Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include

• Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
• Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
• Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
• Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
• Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting