Hundreds, if not thousands of additives are on the market that claim to improve the performance of your septic system. Some of the claims made by the manufactures and sellers of these additives include making septic tank pumping unnecessary, eliminating foul odors, improving soil percolation, and other such claims. The reality is that a septic system is designed to work without any additional additives.
Waste water from your home collects in the septic tank where naturally occurring bacteria break down the majority of the solid material. The wastewater (called the effluent) then flows into the drain field (also called a leech field) where it percolates into the soil. More bacteria in the soil completes the treatment process. Solid material that cannot be broken down settles to the bottom of the septic tank and needs to be occasionally pumped out of the tank.
At best, using a septic system additive is just a waste of money. Pouring these additives down your toilet or sink is like pouring money down the drain. Most of them don’t do much if anything to the septic system which already has plenty of naturally occurring bacteria to do the work of breaking down solid material.
However, some additives can be harmful to the septic system if it destroys the natural bacteria. More solids will collect in the septic tank which will require more frequent septic tank pumping. In addition, bacteria in the drain field can be destroyed which can lead to a clogged drain field.
Save money and avoid potential septic system headaches by skipping the septic system additives unless directed to do so by an experienced, reputable septic system professional.
