Before you reach for that bottle of septic tank additive, think again. You could be shortening the life of your septic system.
According to a press release by Donise Osbourn, at K-State Research and Extension, septic tank additives are not needed to keep systems working properly.
“Property owners see and read advertisements all the time for various products that can be added regularly to septic tanks to keep them functioning properly,” said DeAnn Presley, K-State Research and Extension soil management soil specialist.
Presley said limited third-party research has been done on septic additives.
“The research that has been done is not promising,” she said. “This research has found no benefit in septic tank function to using any type of septic system additives. In fact, some additives potentially could be detrimental to the function or components of the septic system or to groundwater quality.”
Ann Mayo, director for environmental health at the Lyon County Health Department, said septic tank additives can damage the septic system.
“Some of the additives are advertised to keep the tank clean,” Mayo said. “When they put it in it can actually generate gas to float solids to the lateral line. It will actually cause the solids, for lack of a better term, to coagulate to pull together so the water can’t get through.”
Mayo suggests property owners have their septic tanks pumped every three to five years on average to keep them working properly.
Presley said a properly functioning and well-maintained system does not need septic tank additives.
“In fact, caution should be taken in using these products to avoid damage to the components or interference with the system function,” she said.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Septic tanks? I thought the health department really frowned on them. We have a lagoon and inoculate it periodically with digestive bacteria. It seems to help in the open air lagoons, I can't attest to a septic tank, though.
March 3, 2009 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )