Bacteria get a bad rap. Go down any cleaning product isle in a grocery store and you will see hundreds of products touting their ability to kill bacteria. While many types of bacteria can pose a health threat, they can be beneficial in the right circumstances. Those same tiny organisms that can make you ill are important to your septic system. Here’s why bacteria are vital to your septic system and how you can protect them.
Septic Systems Depend on Bacteria
When the waste from your home or business leaves the building and enters the holding tank, it needs to deteriorate. The septic tank is designed to allow solid wastes to breakdown into liquid. For this to occur, bacteria are required. Bacteria feed on organic solid waste, such as food, fecal matter and even paper products. As they attack the solids, they are dissolved into liquid. This liquid wastewater, called effluent, can then overflow to your mound or drain field to be further filtered before entering the ground water below.
Protecting Bacteria
Unfortunately, all those cleaners and other chemicals that kill bacteria can be detrimental to your septic system. If anti-bacterial cleansers, paint thinners and other harsh chemicals are put down the drain, they can kill the bacteria in your septic tank. Even antibiotic medications can kill septic bacteria. To protect the bacteria needed in your septic tank, avoid allowing these chemicals to go down your drains.
If your bacteria balance is not correct, your septic tank will fill quicker and require more frequent pumping. To maintain a healthy septic system, make sure to schedule routine inspections with a septic professional – they can check your bacteria balance and help you protect your septic system.
Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934
