What type of household products can be used with your septic system?

What type of household products can be used with your septic system?

Posted on 27 heinä 2021 by Lise Helluy

What types of household products can be used with septic systems?

Do you have a BIOROCK installation or do you wish to invest in one of our wastewater treatment solutions? Be aware that there are certain products to avoid if you want them to last over time!

In this article, we will give you a list of the products we recommend and the ones you should not use.

First of all, it is essential to explain the reason why some products cannot be put in our tanks.

 

Why can't we use all kinds of products when we have a wastewater treatment solution?

In the past, only toilet water was discharged into septic tanks. Nowadays, it receives all domestic wastewater: from the shower, the washing machine, the kitchen; hence the name "Primary Tank".

micro bacteriaAll the chemical products used for the cleaning of the house are thus rejected in this first tank. They will then follow the same treatment cycle as the wastewater discharged into the treatment plant: decantation and then purification in a second tank through biological treatment.

With a biological wastewater treatment, small bacteria (living organisms) devour the organic impurities. It is with the help of these bacteria that your environmentally friendly installation can function efficiently.

So be very careful! Since the whole system works thanks to living organisms, the use of certain products could compromise the health of these little bacteria, and therefore prevent your installation from purifying your water! A tank without its bacteria means a risk of bad odors, or even worse, a tank that clogs and overflows.

To take care of these micro-organisms, here are some practices to adopt on a daily basis.

 

Products that should not be discharged into the septic tank:

As you may have read in your user's guide, it is forbidden to discharge certain products into the installation so as not to affect its purification performance, such as : 

  • Oils such as motor oil
  • Waxes and resins
  • Paints and solvents
  • Hydrocarbon-based products (gasoline, petroleum, etc.)
  • Any pesticide, bactericide, toxic product, acid, and base product.

These must be evacuated to a collecting and recycling center.

antibacterial wipesFor the protection and proliferation of bacteria, do not use cleaning products containing bleach or caustic soda. Also, do not use cleaning wipes that contain antibacterial agents that are harmful to the proper functioning of your wastewater treatment solution.

 

 

 

Some advice :

  • Be careful with dishwasher tablets that may contain bleach! A tip to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should always check the composition of a cleaning product before buying it.
  • Don't throw cooking oil or food oil down the toilet, throw it directly into the garbage!
  • Clearwater is not pure water, so do not evacuate rainwater or swimming pool water into your drains.
  • You should also avoid materials that are difficult to biodegrade, such as coffee pods, cigarette butts, menstrual pads, and cat litter.

Fortunately, there are several natural products that can replace all your chemical cleaning products. These products, which we will detail below, are safe for your wastewater treatment system (and for the planet).

 

Natural products to use :

At the same time good for your body, for the environment, and therefore for your installation, here are the natural products that you can use to replace chemical household products :

  • White vinegar:  Cleaning, disinfecting, descaling, this magic product is safe for your pit.
  • Baking soda: use it to clean the house, to whiten your clothes, or even for beauty tips! Combine it with white vinegar to remove limescale and scale from your toilets... You'll be surprised at its effectiveness.

Baking soda

  • Soaps (black, linseed oil, or Marseille): these multi-purpose products will eliminate certain bacteria but not those of the pit. They will leave a pleasant smell in your laundry or on any surface.
  • Lemon: this antiseptic is one of the best because it naturally contains citric acid. It is therefore perfect for degreasing and shining your interior while leaving a refreshing scent

Lemon juice household product

Now you are aware of the prohibited products and the natural products that replace them perfectly. All you have to do is change your routine a little and you will be sure not to damage your BIOROCK treatment plants.

Thanks to these few tips, you will be able to make your installation last over time. If you have any problems or if you wish to speak with one of our qualified technicians, please contact us via our website. It will be a pleasure for us to help you!

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