Toilet Paper in the Septic. Myth or Truth?

Jasper · #1 09-19-2004, 12:37 PM

what's the deal with not flushing toilet paper down the toilet in the dr? if i had the plumbing done with large enough pvc, then i am told that there should be no problem with paper getting clogged in the pvc. however i am told not to flush paper because the septic holding with fill up too fast with paper and become clogged and useless. what's the truth? fyi i have a cinder block septic holding in the ground, 14' deep, probably another 12' by 12'. chamber on the right is the holding area for the waste; chamber on the left is filled with charcoal. i can't recall if there was a 3rd chamber or not. don't believe so. how long should i expect this septico to last anyway?

POP Bad Boy · #2 09-19-2004, 01:15 PM

...........type of system that you describe (without the charcoal) and we flush everything down the toilet. We have showers, baths, washing machine, toilets etc and have never had a problem in over 10 years that we've been here. Maybe twice a year I flush one can of Rid X down the toilet. We have never had the system pumped either.

...............by the way, what's the charcoal for?

Jasper · #3 09-19-2004, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POP Bad Boy

...........type of system that you describe (without the charcoal) and we flush everything down the toilet. We have showers, baths, washing machine, toilets etc and have never had a problem in over 10 years that we've been here. Maybe twice a year I flush one can of Rid X down the toilet. We have never had the system pumped either.

...............by the way, what's the charcoal for?

charcoal is to filter/treat the waster water. what is Rid X?

POP Bad Boy · #4 09-19-2004, 02:34 PM

is like a small pebble type powder that is "bacteria" that you put into septic systems that does something to break down the solids faster. I have heard that you can also "flush" down some raw chicken every once in a while and obtain the same results.

Rid - X is a "septic system treatment", and i also remember now that they sell a "septic system treatment" in most of the hardware stores here that is a generic version.

And, by the way, it was VERY aggravating trying to get my dominican friends and employees to "flush the toilet paper" EVEN THOUGH AS THEY SAY "THAT'S NOT WHAT DOMINICAN'S DO"! But now they know that's WHAT THEY DO, if they want to use our facilities! (You might want to remove the basket from your bathroom!)

Mirador · #5 09-19-2004, 03:12 PM

As a patent translator I can assure you that most name brands of toilet paper comprise ingredients that break up the structure of the paper as soon as they're flushed.

Mirador

Rosemary · #6 09-19-2004, 03:19 PM

I have always found a packet of Yeast Powder flused down the toilet every couple weeks works well ! In all the years I have had a septic system I found the yeast worked great and it's very inexpensive !

Hlywud · #7 09-19-2004, 04:01 PM

Bacteria will break down all the solids in the tank, Rix X works, another good method is to open the tank top and deposit some dead fish into the tank, they will rot and start a bacteria cycle.

Texas Bill · #8 09-19-2004, 06:20 PM

what all the rest have posted....

Bacteria form in a Septic tank without any additional input of anything but human waste. However, since we use cleaners, clorax and the like, it will behoove everyone to add a package of Rid-X or some form of natural or synthethic bacteria to help out with Nature. These products are usually available in any Ferriteria. Even mouldy bread will work.

Modern toilet paper is manufactured with an ingrediant that causes it to start disolving once it hits the water. From that point on it is only a matter of a few minutes for the process to be completed.

Next time your Dominican friends give you any lip about flushing the paper down with the rest of the stuff, just take a couple of sheets of the paper and throw it in the stool. Maybe that will convince them to flush their stink down along with the cause.

It's just difficult to break a lifetime of habit and misinformation.

Bear in mind that disolvable toilet paper wasn't always available down here and it takes a generation or so for any 'new' ideas to catch on.

Or, better yet, go to Turkey, or other Arab countries where toilet paper isn't used at all. There, they eat with their right hand and do other things with their left.

Texas Bill

gerd · #9 09-19-2004, 07:14 PM

I´m glad this thread came up.
I´ve been feeling guilty for years, for not throwing the paper into the bin. Just couldn´t do it.
You guys took a lot of bad conscience off my shoulders.

MommC · #10 09-19-2004, 07:28 PM

The staler and mouldier the better........
I also flush vegetable scraps once in a while. We've had septics for generations in the "country" without ever having to have them pumped however the Dominican penchant for cloro does necessitate a helping hand once every so often or the cloro kills the natural bacteria that take care of the solids. Also I've noted that most Dominican septic systems (and I use the term lightly

) tend to be a the "miniscule" side so don't always cope well with the volume of waste generated!