sanitizer and your septic sysyem

[BSArider]

A quick question about disposing of bleach and iodopher sanitizers. I live with a 1000 gallon septic tank and leach field. Iv'e always been very careful about what goes down the drains cause I don't wan't to kill all the stuff in the tank that eats all the other crap(literally) that goes in there, so I dump my sanitizers off in the woods. Is this a valid concern or am I hauling gallons of stuff a long way off for nothing?

 

[erikrocks]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/star-san-septic-system-102667/

 

[dannedry]

I dump mine out in the yard... just to be safe. But I'm sure it's fine.

 

[P-J]

Do a Google on Septic System Additives

If anything happens to the culture in you septic tank, a simple addition can fix the problem.

 

[kappclark]

I don't use Star San, but Iodophor...I think the dilution in a 1000G tank makes the impact minor.

One thing I do try to get down the toilet is the remains of the primary, if I am not harvesting yeast..more helpers down below.

 

[smoa]

What about oxyclean?

 

[malkore]

Oxyclean isn't a sanitizer...it only is a cleanser.

Does it say on the label if its ok for septic systems?

 

[RedHouse]

One thing I do try to get down the toilet is the remains of the primary, if I am not harvesting yeast..more helpers down below.

I never even thought of that....wonder if it really helps?

 

[starsailor]

I just switched from Iodophor to StarSan when my bottle ran out for just this reason.

Listen to Charlie Tally from FiveStar talk about this and other sanitizing topics in:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/charlie-talley-five-star-chemicals-notes-brewcasts-58928/

It's worth your time times 10. It will also answer your next 5 questions about sanitizing that you haven't thought of yet.

Bottom line for septic systems once once a 5 gal bucket of sanitizer is diluted out is:

Iodophor = bad

StarSan = crap digesting microbe nutrient