Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 01, 2000 09:14pm | #1

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   The more matter you send into the septic, the more work you force it to do.

   Do garbage disposals put added "stress" on septic systems? They do. There's no way around it. You're sending more solids and more liquids into the system, which results in more "work" for the system to do.

   Is this "stress" or "work" adverse to your septic? Who knows. If you've got good biological activity, all may be well. The newer generation of disposals are, theoretically, more septic friendly.

   There is buzz (locally) about adding a disposal penalty to septic design, essentially counting the disposal as another bedroom.

   Best bet? Compost. As a minimum, monitor your system. Have it pumped out every 3-5 years. If you notice problems or excessive sludge during a pumpout, the disposal may be a contributor.

   Run a search as well. I believe this was discussed recently.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 01, 2000 10:31pm | #2

   *I asked my Mom about this, as she's trained in septic systems (township board supervisor and inspector), and she says that composting is best for those items that can be composted. Why waste it? Otherwise, using the disposal is generally okay if the septic system can accept it. She says that city folks that move to the country don't understand country plumbing, so their township codes do attach a disposal "penalty" to new septic design. She also says that the ISE disposal that injects a biological element into the garbage is worthless in that regard and is just a come-on. That the disposal may cut the garbage up finer than a standard disposal could be a plus, however.

2. 
   Johnathan_Stonley | Feb 01, 2000 11:56pm | #3

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   In my area septic systems must be upsized by 25% if a garbage disposal is to be used. This is essentially the same as the "disposal penalty" that Mungo refers to.

   Here is a document called "Well & Septic System Care" that sites coffee grounds as a bad item to be put in a septic system. Doesn't say why, but generally I will say that anything is bad for a septic system that a) doesn't readily break down or b) has an adverse effect on digestive bacteria in the septic tank. Examples for "a)" would be plastic, and "b)" would be solvents.

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 03, 2000 12:18am | #4

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   I am in the preliminary phases of designing a septic system for my rural property in the Columbia Gorge of Oregon. There is a fair amount of information on the web specific to septic systems.

   There is a fairly decent web page on maintaining septic systems at:

   http://ianrwww.unl.edu/pubs/wastemgt/g448.htm#stl

   An extensive links listing of septic tank oriented sites is at:

   http://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htm

   Some college extention sites on septic system design:

   http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu/aex-fact/0743.html

   http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/c819-2w.html

   http://ianrwww.unl.edu/pubs/wastemgt/g448.htm#stl

   There is a site that features questions and answers regarding septic problems at:

   http://www.septicprotector.com/how.htm

   While the answers at this site are interesting to read and generally appear to have good information, it is a commercial site for selling a lint filter to protect septic systems.

   The septic tank size requirements listed on the three extention sites is interesting. For a 3 bedroom house, Ohio requires a tank of 1500 gallons with a divided discharge field (500 gal additional for a 4bedroom), while Georgia requires only 900 gallons and Nebraska 1000 gallons (with 250 gal extra for 4th bedroom). On these three sites, I saw a reference to a garbage disposal only on the Nebraska site, which required a 25% larger drain field when one was used.

   The college extention sites all are oriented to septic fields that back fill trenches with gravel and use perpherated drain pipe to distribute the effluent. I am intrigued by the possibility of not having to haul gravel as promised by "chamber" type of drain field distribution system such as that offered by

   http://www.infiltratorsystems.com/

   Has anyone had experience with, or have any knowledge of, this type of drain field?

   My original idea was to provide a separate grey water system. However one of the comments on one of the above sites said that this didn't work too well because the sporatic nutrients in such a system failed to keep alive the bacteria for decomposing the wastes and they soon failed. The recommendation was to just use a larger septic system and allow the ample supply of "bugs" there to decompose all wastes. I had assumed that the grey water in such a system just sort of flowed out to be used by plants without much need for being broken down in a septic field and that if all non-toilet sources were included, it would seem to have a fairly constant supply of water - even if it had a fairly low nutrient load. Anyone have any ideas about this? (I was originally thinking about a composting system with a grey water system, but decided that the septic system was probably more reasonable.)

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 04, 2000 01:02am | #5

   *This is a recurring topic the answer to which very much depends on local conditions. Size and efficiency of a septic system depends on such things as soil temperature, soil permeability, effluent standards, etc.So, the two best things to do are visit with the local authorities(State DEC, Building Dept, Coop Extension, Real Estate Agents, etc) and to find out what your neighbors have and how well it works. Of course most of them won't have the foggiest about their systems but based on your other knowledge you can at least figure out how to protect yourself from their pollution.As for the general concept of garbage disposal discharging into a septic system; there really isn't any reason not to if the additional load is taken into consideration. This may mean making it bigger or just pumping it more often.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 04, 2000 05:37am | #7

   *Hi Casey, I will be installing a septic system for a house I'm building in central Washington as soon as the snow melts. After much research I will be using the infiltrator chambers. Gravel is expensive and a lot of work to haul to the trenches. As you undoubtedly know, the chambers require no gravel. You lay them in the trenches, pipe it together, get the inspection and cover them with dirt. My health department inspector likes them a lot, he said they are considering allowing shorter drain field lengths if you use them....Washington requires 1000 gal tank for 3 bedroom, though they let me add a 4th bedroom to my house without modifying my septic - if I switched to 1.6 gal toilets.I'll keep you posted on how my project unfoldsjiml

4. 
   John_Knaak | Feb 04, 2000 05:37am | #6

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   I get conflicting advice about using a garbage disposal with a conventional septic system. Some tell me not to put certain items in it such as coffee grounds, egg shells and such.
   I maintain that these are organic materials just like everything else that goes in there and it should make no difference.
   Does anyone really know?