image provided by: RegionalSan
When we talk about what to flush and what not to flush, it’s easy to forget about what is flushed through our waste that we can’t control. With nearly half of Americans taking prescription medication regularly, it’s not often considered what happens to those medications as they make their way through our bodies and how much of that medication is exiting without being fully broken down/metabolized.
An article posted by Pumper Magazine titled “The Problem With Medications and Septic Systems” details how medications (especially chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and other potent prescriptions) can damage the good bacteria that needs to live in the septic system. The good bacteria that is formed around our waste helps break down the solids in the septic tank and without this bacteria, the solids can build up much quicker and may require more maintenance to keep the system in good health & functioning properly.
Here are some recommended tips that are provided from this article:
- NEVER flush unused medications. If you have medication that you are no longer using, there are many “takeback” programs through local law enforcement, pharmacies, and hospitals that will happily dispose of your unused prescriptions.
- Minimize the usage of goods that can kill bacteria (things like antibacterial soap, bleach, drain cleaners, etc.)
- If you have started a new program involving potent prescription medications, have your system evaluated to determine how it is operating with the change in your waste.
- Your septic tank may need to be pumped more frequently to remove the level of solids/sludge accumulating in the tank due to the loss of healthy bacteria–this is something that can be determined during an evaluation of the system by a licensed professional.
If you would like more information on this, refer to the article above or give us a call! We are always willing to help and have multiple associates who love talking about septic systems and what goes on once you flush.