Ponder IMO · Home & everyday living

A Poop Subject

An old septic system, a few experiments, and bills that make me ponder.

By Marion / Ponder IMO

I have a septic tank, and I’ve got to take care of it. It isn’t the prettiest subject, but when you own a home and pay the bills, it gets your attention!

Two tanks and a whole lot of history

My septic system has two tanks and dates back to 1982. A pump in one of the tanks sends wastewater to the city sewer. It handles gray water and toilet wastewater, sometimes called black water. And yes, I pay a sewer bill, too.

My setup may be different from yours. Knowing what you have is part of taking care of it.

I try to keep the additives I use as natural as possible. I’ve looked up different ways to care for a septic tank, and the advice goes both ways: some people recommend these methods, while others advise against them.

Here’s what I’ve tried

I use yeast, pickle juice, leftover beer whenever I have it, and about half a cup of sourdough discard. To me, things with yeast or vinegar in them seem to help. That’s my impression, though, rather than a proven benefit.

I know the tomatoes sound weird! My local grocery store lets me have a small bag of tomatoes that are going bad for next to nothing. I wait a couple of days, then blend them very finely with my immersion blender. The first time, I used about two cups; now I use half a cup once a month.

I had read that tomatoes could help keep the tank and lines clean, but I don’t know whether that claim is true. Even finely blended food still adds material to the tank.

Eight years of sourdough discard

I’ve been using sourdough discard for eight years. About six months ago, someone told me it could stop up my pipes. That’s my history with it, rather than proof that it cannot cause a clog.

I haven’t had to pump my tank for more than two years. That’s my experience, but it doesn’t prove that the additions helped or that the tanks don’t need maintenance.

Why those water bills matter

Between my water bill, sewer bill, and buying bottled water, water and wastewater are my biggest household utility expense. My electricity costs less!

I want to take care of what I have. The tanks, the plumbing, and the water coming into my house are things I depend on every day.

A poopie subject? Yes. But one that deserves a little pondering.

Sources and further reading

EPA — Septic Tank Additives Fact Sheet

EPA — Frequent Questions on Septic Systems