4 Things To Keep Out of Your Septic System

Residential and commercial septic systems are highly efficient at diverting wastewater and keeping your water supply clean and usable. However, even the best sewage pumps can become clogged if too many non-sewage items end up in them. What are a few of the most common things you should keep out of your septic system to avoid unpleasant backups?

Medications

If you have an old supply of pills you’d like to throw away, think twice before flushing them down your toilet. Pharmaceutical drugs can dissolve and build up in your water supply, which can cause unpleasant health effects for individuals who use the water.

Instead, crush up any unused pills, mix them with water and clumping kitty litter, and place the mixture in a sealed container before throwing it in the trash.

Paint

Your residential or commercial sewage pump is home to a microbiome of bacteria that helps break down waste. However, those microbes are no match for latex paint or oil-based pigments. Too much old paint in your septic system can lead to a premature breakdown.

Many communities have hazardous waste collection programs that allow individuals to drop off items they can’t flush or toss. If you’re holding onto several old paint cans, take them to a waste collection center.

Menstrual Products

Microbes in your septic system can’t break down disposable menstrual items like pads, tampons, and liners. They’ll linger and absorb more moisture, as their manufacturers design them to do. When too many menstrual products end up in your system, they can cause unpleasant clogs and backups.

Throw used menstrual care items in your wastebasket instead, and empty the basket regularly to keep your bathroom clean and welcoming.

Cooking Fats

Food products like cooking oil and bacon grease may be liquids when they’re hot, but they harden and congeal as they cool down. The average septic system can’t handle a large volume of oil-based waste. Plus, pouring fats and grease down your drain can cause stubborn clogs that may require you to replace your pipes outright.

To dispose of cooking grease properly, wait for it to reach room temperature before pouring it into a closed container and tossing the container into the garbage.

Keep your septic system in top condition by remembering which items to keep out of it. Dispose of unconventional trash through the proper channels, and avoid overloading your sewage pump with excessive waste!