water changes and septic tanks

Oakie · 07/24/2009, 07:01 PM

thinking of moving out of the city. The place we're looking at is on well water and a septic tank system. What are some of the things to consider? Will water changes have an adverse impact on the bacteria in the septic tank? Anything else?

thanks

mfinn · 07/24/2009, 07:33 PM

I have been doing water changes and dumping the water into my septic system for approx 18 years with no adverse affects.
I recently had the tank pumped and I told the owner/pumper that I had been dumping saltwater into it for that long and he said that everything was working fine.
I've dumped up to 150 gallons every 2 weeks for 8-9 years and now just 90 gallons every two weeks for the last 4 years.

I see this come up on the boards and people will say that the saltwater will kill the bacteria in the tank, but I can tell you from my actual experince, it's working for my septic system and has been for a long time.

Oakie · 07/24/2009, 07:37 PM

phew...that was going to be a show stopper!

is there anything else one should know....need to change filters more often? House has water softener, and an iron filter.

baskin · 07/24/2009, 07:44 PM

I have a septic tank also, but have not been putting my water change water into it. So I cant help you there. I have however been been using well water with a RO/DI unit. It seems to be fine, although my tds is alittle high, and I seem to go through filters alittle faster than I thought.

mfinn · 07/24/2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oakie
phew...that was going to be a show stopper!

is there anything else one should know....need to change filters more often? House has water softener, and an iron filter.

Oh, there will be people who say that you can't do it, but I can say for certain, I have been doing it the whole time I've been in my present house and that is 18 years.

07/24/2009, 07:01 PM	#1
Oakie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 657	water changes and septic tanks thinking of moving out of the city. The place we're looking at is on well water and a septic tank system. What are some of the things to consider? Will water changes have an adverse impact on the bacteria in the septic tank? Anything else? thanks

07/24/2009, 07:33 PM	#2
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I have been doing water changes and dumping the water into my septic system for approx 18 years with no adverse affects. I recently had the tank pumped and I told the owner/pumper that I had been dumping saltwater into it for that long and he said that everything was working fine. I've dumped up to 150 gallons every 2 weeks for 8-9 years and now just 90 gallons every two weeks for the last 4 years. I see this come up on the boards and people will say that the saltwater will kill the bacteria in the tank, but I can tell you from my actual experince, it's working for my septic system and has been for a long time. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

07/24/2009, 07:37 PM	#3
Oakie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 657	phew...that was going to be a show stopper! is there anything else one should know....need to change filters more often? House has water softener, and an iron filter.

07/24/2009, 07:44 PM	#4
baskin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 36	I have a septic tank also, but have not been putting my water change water into it. So I cant help you there. I have however been been using well water with a RO/DI unit. It seems to be fine, although my tds is alittle high, and I seem to go through filters alittle faster than I thought.