Hi Folks,
I’m new to brewing. Here’s my first question: Are there any sanitizers that are septic system safe. If so, what would you recommend?
Thanks
Bart
PBW for cleaning and Starsan for sanitizing. Both manufactured by Five Star Chemicals.
I would not want those in my septic system, but they are probably relatively harmless at dilute levels recommended by Five Star. Even so, I just pitch them out on the driveway or patio and they flow into the grass. In winter it goes right into the yard.
On this episode of Brew Strong Jamil and John Palmer cover properly cleaning your brewing equipment. To help tackle the topic, Jon Herskovits of Five Star Chemicals joins the discussion to add insight about the right chemicals for the right job and how they affect your brewing, equipment and the environment.
http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/Brew-Strong/Brew-Strong-11-10-08-Cleaning
I’ve been using them with no problems and Jon from Five Star specifically addresses septic systems in this podcast.
Yes, I use them, as well, but especially as to PBW, I would avoid septic tank disposal, despite the claim that there is no harm at mfg. dilution levels. But I add helpful bacteria regularly to my system just to be sure. My septic tank guy recommends it so it doesn’t require as frequent pumping as without.
Do you bleach your whites?
No, never.
No bleach in my system - living on a septic for many years, there isn’t much we put in there that has been thought through. Yes we use septic friendly lighter detergents and soaps, so why push it with other things that are detrimental to bacteria?
The way I see it, the amount of anything going into a septic tank will be diluted to such an extent that it won’t matter. My tank is 1200 gallons. Whatever I use in brewing is not going to make a dent in that kind of volume.
Having lived in homes with septic systems for most of my life, I can say without reservation that the number one septic system/drain field killer is failure to pump one’s septic tank on a regularly scheduled basis. Residential septic systems are not completely self-maintaining. Failing to pump a septic on a scheduled basis can result in non-decomposed toilet tissue infiltrating one’s drain field, preventing the effluent from draining from the tank.
Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) breaks down to salt water and oxygen while attacking organic matter. Used properly, most of the sodium hypchlorite in a load of whites is broken down to saltwater and oxygen before it is drained and rinsed from the load.
Finally a topic I can contribute too! When I was building my house in the sticks, I researched septic systems somewhat extensively as I had never had one. I found some interesting studies into what is actually needed to “kill” the beneficial microbes in the tank. This study was very interesting, while it does not involve brewing chemicals, it does give one a sense of the strength of the colonies.
and where i live, most cant install leach filed septic systems due to soil composition. i have 2-thousand gal tanks for solid collection, then an aeration tank for liquid, then one last tank that collects the water, hits it with UV light, and pumps it to the ditch. no worries with sanitizers, and i just have the 2-thousand gal tanks pumped out every 3 years to remove anything not broken down. $18K poop system…ridiculous.
I had to replace my septic system before I could sell my last house, and a traditional ISDS with leach field is in the same price ballpark - especially when you factor in the landscaping.
As far as I know, they all are. Consider the small amount of sanitizer vs. the volume of your septic tank. I’ve been pouring sanitizers into my septic tank for 7 years and never had a problem.
I sometimes wonder if pouring spent yeast etc. down the drain after racking a fermenter is actually helpful to the flora in a septic system.