Kalk waste and septics

[Tennismurph]

Any concerns rinsing undissolved Kalk tank residue into the septic system on a weekly basis? It's a pain carrying it outside.

 

[starmanres]

My daughter is doing an experiment on dissolving gummy bears in different bowls of water.

Low PH, Kalkwasser and Regular Tap Water.

The acid in the low PH makes a huge difference in how fast they dissolve.

I understand that bacteria is the main source of breakdown in a septic system but if you change the PH content of the water with undissolvable Kalk residue, it would seem that it would eventually destroy the environment that those beneficial guys need to do their job.

Just some thoughts.

Robert

 

[Tennismurph]

Thanks Starmanres. Makes sense. Nice to see your wife didn't kill you about the floor stain...or maybe she did and has taken over your tanks and identity:rollface:

 

[RichConley]

starmanres, if its not dissolving, shoudlnt it not affect the PH of the septic system?

 

[JHemdal]

This is just a guess: septic systems operate by bacterial decomposition that produces carbon dioxide. Calcium hydroxide exposed to carbon dioxide produces calcium carbonate (chalk). The chalk isn't going to cause any problems. However, I'm not going to volunteer to lift the system lid and take a look-see<grin>.

I've been worried - I brew my own beer, and I use a sterilizing agent to clean the brewing vessel before use (the same stuff bars use to sanitize glassware). I then pour that down the drain. I've always wondered if that would harm my spetic system...but not worried enough to stop brewing beer!

Jay Hemdal

 

[ERICinFL]

If it concerns you, there is a powder you can buy that you just flush down the toilet. It's supposed to boost your bacteria in the septic system. I'm not sure of the product name, but perhaps doing this once or twice a year wouldn't hurt.

 

[sttroyiii]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7059965#post7059965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ERICinFL
If it concerns you, there is a powder you can buy that you just flush down the toilet. It's supposed to boost your bacteria in the septic system. I'm not sure of the product name, but perhaps doing this once or twice a year wouldn't hurt.

We used something similar for years in another house. Our septic tank was the last replaced out of all the other houses on our street. We quit using it for a year, and sure enough it backed up. I think the stuff works. It shouldnt hurt, I think its like reseeding your 'tank'. It probably just depends on how much counter-productive stuff you wash down the drain. All of the water with bleach for laundry, anti-bacterial soaps, bathroom cleaners, etc. comes to mind.

 

[Slickdonkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7059965#post7059965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ERICinFL
If it concerns you, there is a powder you can buy that you just flush down the toilet. It's supposed to boost your bacteria in the septic system. I'm not sure of the product name, but perhaps doing this once or twice a year wouldn't hurt.

I have always heard that these products do more harm than good. But I really don't know for sure.

 

[xtrstangx]

We dump some nasty chemicals down the drain in the chemistry lab at school and there is no worries. I'd imagine you'd be OK... you probably have a lot of sewage and not much kalk waste.

Then again I don't have any experience with septic tanks.

 

[Slickdonkey]

Yeah man, nasty chemicals are a big no-no in septic tanks.

 

[Tennismurph]

Good idea. I forgot about the bug booster. The one toilet I dumped that into smelled for quite some time. I guess it cultured in the bowl. Seemed counter productive to bleach it and flush it.

 

[sttroyiii]

The stuff we used didnt smell. It was a black coarse ground powder, iirc. There wasnt any smell, but you had to pour it slow to keep the dust down. Then you flushed it and forgot about it till next month. I have no idea what the name was, but it came in pre-measured baggies for using once a month.