What Are the Effects of Bleach on a Septic Tank? This post will address many questions concerning the effects of bleach and the potential harmful effects that bleach can have on a septic tank and drain field. We will briefly discuses the effects of beneficial bacterial septic tank treatments and additives.
Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the impact household chemicals are having on our home and the environment. Bleach, harsh cleaning chemicals, pesticides and antibacterial products contaminate our drinking water and destroy beneficial bacteria in our septic systems.
Bleach is a common household product used for everything from cleaning floors, whitener for our laundry. Studies have shown that bleach even kills athletes’ foot but not mold.
Adding bleach to the laundry is a practice that our mothers have used for 100 years before 5% of septic tanks and drain fields started failing each year. The effect of bleach on a septic system is minimal at best. Chlorine bleach looses most of in potency before it ever leaves the grocery store. If you’re not using antibacterial hand soaps and other harsh chemicals on a regular basis, a little chlorine bleach in our laundry is just fine.
Antibacterial hand soaps are probably the worst product that you can use in a septic system. The antibacterial effects of the soap kill off bacteria long after the product has been introduced into the septic tank and drain field.
Consider the use of a beneficial bacterial septic tank additive to supplement the bacterial count in your system. With all the harsh chemicals we use in a septic take including bleach it’s difficult for the natural septic tank bacteria to keep up with the digestion process. Use a commercial grade bacterial additive. This once a month treatment can extend the life of your septic system many years off setting the effect of bleach in your septic system.