Cure and Septic tanks

Wildcat · February 16, 2012, 07:09:27 PM

I have rental units. The rentals and my home are all on septic systems. Grease is the biggest enemy to septic systems. I pump the rentals every 3 to 5 years and mine every 10. We do not use a disposal, absolutely no grease goes down the drain. We actually use paper towels to get it all. We also use toilet tissue that simply disolves in water. All they get out of mine when it is pumped is liquid. I do not treat mine at all.

Salmonsmoker · February 17, 2012, 05:03:10 PM

Quote from: Wildcat on February 16, 2012, 07:09:27 PM
I have rental units. The rentals and my home are all on septic systems. Grease is the biggest enemy to septic systems. I pump the rentals every 3 to 5 years and mine every 10. We do not use a disposal, absolutely no grease goes down the drain. We actually use paper towels to get it all. We also use toilet tissue that simply disolves in water. All they get out of mine when it is pumped is liquid. I do not treat mine at all.

I wasn't sure about this, so I sent it to my brother the PE. Here's his reply.

Ken,
This is from a forum that I belong to. Can this statement be true? After 10 years all that's pumped is liquid? Doesn't seem possible to me.

Nope. The sludge on the bottom is liquefied so when it is pumped out, he thinks it is liquid. There are always undegradable materials in wastewater that just don't go away.

Keymaster · February 17, 2012, 05:13:52 PM

It seems to me the always take a long rake sorta tool and stir the crud off the bottom before they suck it out.

Wildcat · February 17, 2012, 07:01:26 PM

It does appear like all liquid (and might just as well be since I never have big blocks of solid). Some things (corn is an example) simply do not turn into liquid. Grease, on the other hand, actually turns into a big hard block with particles of it plugging up the drain field holes. Also, I have a gray water tank which gets things like lint from clothes that can plug fields. The point is that very little maintenance is needed if you take precautions to keep grease and food out of your system. There will naturally be grease and food in human waste, but one can help their systems by taking the precaution of stopping the input of undigested food and grease.

iceman · March 01, 2012, 04:18:50 PM

Quote from: slowpoke on February 16, 2012, 01:50:42 PM
I really like the cat idea. ;D

I wonder if Squirt the cat knows about this one :o ::) ;D

KyNola · March 02, 2012, 06:47:24 AM

Wildcat, you're a nicer guy than me. I'm just sayin'................... ;)

Wildcat · March 02, 2012, 01:44:19 PM

Quote from: KyNola on March 02, 2012, 06:47:24 AM
Wildcat, you're a nicer guy than me. I'm just sayin'................... ;)

lol - I felt a little twinge when I first read his reply, but then decided that he really was not trying to call me a liar, just looking for the truth and he is probably young and did not think. I have been guilty of not engaging brain before my mouth myself many times. I generally do not mind being corrected.

Habanero Smoker · March 03, 2012, 01:51:42 AM

Quote from: Wildcat on March 02, 2012, 01:44:19 PM
Quote from: KyNola on March 02, 2012, 06:47:24 AM
Wildcat, you're a nicer guy than me. I'm just sayin'................... ;)
lol - I felt a little twinge when I first read his reply, but then decided that he really was not trying to call me a liar, just looking for the truth and he is probably young and did not think. I have been guilty of not engaging brain before my mouth myself many times. I generally do not mind being corrected.

Most of the time I just ignore posts like that and give the person the benefit of doubt or issue them a free pass on a "Wolf Ticket". I have to say again; most of the time. :)

Wildcat · March 03, 2012, 04:27:43 AM

;)

KyNola · March 03, 2012, 06:47:47 AM

:)

Sometimes I have the right to remain silent but just don't have the ability. :o

viper125 · March 03, 2012, 09:23:15 AM

Well i have the same problem sometimes. To quick to rile and to quick to talk. Write it off as old age. At least I don't punch first no more. LOL Least not on line. ;)

Brianpcooney · March 09, 2012, 05:46:48 PM

Quote from: viper125 on February 16, 2012, 03:06:19 PM
I know people who never had their tank pumped for over 80 years. But it's not recommended. THere is just me and the wife and I pump every 3 years on the advise of a friend who does this for a reason. Costs 150.00 to pump and a lot cheapier then digging. We also mix regular bread east about 1/2 a small block and warm water together . Then dump in toilet and flush. And vinigar and baking soda to clean drains. So far no problems! I dont have water conditioner but neighbor does and he's dumped his brine water for over 40 years and does meat also. He also recommends a dead cat in the tank every year. I'll stick to pumping. LOL

Seems to me that the bread yeast would be a BAD idea. I'm also into homebrewing and i know that the yeast keeps the bacteria out of the brew! I also have a friend who works at a decent sized brewery, i asked him once about what they do with the waste yeast (was thinking along the lines of making Vegemite. lol). He said they actually just flushed it down the drain for a few of the earlier years until the city threatened to sue them because it was upsetting their whole process (the yeast was killing the bacteria they introduce to, ehem... do the dirty work).

Salmonsmoker · March 09, 2012, 07:22:28 PM

Actually, yeast doesn't keep bacteria out of the brew. It's the alcohol produced by the yeast that helps keep the bacteria at bay. Healthy yeast and a short lag time(growth phase) gets the "jump" on bacteria growth. Then there'a also bacteria like pediococcus and lactobacillus used in Belgian sour ales that don't have any trouble surviving the alcohol produced by brewers yeast. As far as brewers yeast killing the bacteria, not sure about that. The yeast only eat sugar. I rather suspect it's either the organic load or the yeast is changing the pH of the liquor(not to be confused with Jack Daniels) so the coliform bacteria can't do their job very well..
Cheers,
Homebrewer also and BJCP judge

Cure and Septic tanks

Keymaster