Three Ways to Prevent Your Drain Field from Poisoning the Environment

If you have a septic tank, then you probably have a drain field. This an area several feet beyond your underground septic tank that disperses waste that has been broken down inside the septic tank. Most people assume that most things that go into the septic tank through the household plumbing will be fine in the drain field or aren't aware that there is any such thing as a drain field. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that end up in the drain field which can have an unpleasant effect on the environment. To prevent damages to the environment through your drain field, first ask your drain field contractor or septic tank contractor for recommendations. Then follow these three ways to prevent poisoning of the environment through your drain field.

Do Not Flush Medicines

If municipalities are asking residents to avoid flushing medications into the city sewers and water supply because medications can negatively impact the environment and the water, the same holds true for septic tanks and leach fields. Many pharmacological products may not break down all the way in a septic tank or can alter the way a septic system is supposed to work (e.g., antibiotics can have a negative effect on the septic system). Take that a step further, and these pills and medications end up in the drain field, where their chemical makeup can alter the chemical balance of the soil or impact the groundwater. Avoid flushing your medications; take them to a medication recycling and destruction center instead.

Do Not Use Bleach or Other Harsh Cleaning Agents

Bleach temporarily stops the metabolic processes in the drain field because it kills the good bacteria that is needed to break down waste along with the bad bacteria that can cause health problems. If you are going to use bleach, heavily dilute it and avoid pouring it directly down the drains or into the toilet. It is also a good idea to avoid using drain-pipe clog cleaners and bathroom cleaners that have bleach in them.

Use All-Organic Hygiene and Laundry Products

There are several products on the market now that allow you to take care of your personal hygiene, wash laundry, and wash dishes without dumping unnecessary chemicals into the environment. They are completely organic products, which means that they will not harm the environment when they exit your home via the plumbing to the septic system. They will also carry a "septic-system safe" disclaimer on their labels, which lets you know that you can use them in your home and that they will easily dissolve and leach into the drainage field, causing no damage to the soil or the water.

For more information, talk to a professional at a company that works with drain fields, such as Clogbusters.