WHAT ABOUT ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS? Products designed to kill microorganisms have become increasingly common in today's homes. But how do these products affect septic tank systems, where microorganisms are needed to treat wastewater? An evaluation of this subject concluded that disposal of household quantities of cleaning products, such as bleaches and disinfectants, does not interfere with the function of a properly sited and maintained septic tank.

A typical septic tank holds 500 - 1,000 gallons of wastewater. Dilution of antimicrobial cleaning products in such large volumes of wastewater allows for effective operation of biological waste treatment following the disposal of cleaning products. This appears to be true even under the worst case scenario, where whole packages of products are disposed into relatively small septic tanks.(1) Note: The evaluation also concluded that disposal of household quantities of alkali-based drain openers does not interfere with the function of a properly sited and maintained septic tank. continued...

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