The bleach you put into your system usually goes into the last tank/compartment of an aerobic system, so the gases would have to travel pretty far back towards the house. The gases from the aerobic system do vent back up through the house plumbing, but should except out of the roof vents without odor in your house.
Full Answer
Is bleach bad for You?
Bleach can be very harmful to you if mixed with some household cleaners –particularly ammonia and drain cleaners –due to toxic gasses being produced that can cause all sorts of ailments, from mild coughing and nausea to pneumonia and breathing problems, or worse.
Why is bleach less effective after a year?
Even in its original bottle, bleach becomes 20 percent less effective as each year goes by.” Bleach also degrades when exposed to heat and light, thus, making it an even less effective disinfectant than you might realize if stored improperly.
Is bleach bad for your septic system?
Again, using these in moderation is no big deal, but don’t purchase every household cleaner with bleach in it and pour it down your sink at the same time. That could lead to issues for your septic system. Does Lysol Contain Bleach?
What happens if you mix bleach and sodium hypochlorite?
Even without being mixed, “Sodium hypochlorite at the concentration used in household bleach (5.25-6.15%) can produce ocular irritation or oropharyngeal, esophageal, and gastric burns,” as this CDC reference points out.
Can you use bleach in an aerobic septic system?
Bleach chlorination systems can be installed on any aerobic septic.
Why is bleach not good for septic systems?
Yes, bleach is bad for septic tanks because it kills bacteria. That's the bottom line! While that's great for the toilet, where you want your bacteria to take a hit, it's not so good in your septic system. That's because you need that bacteria to break down the waste and sludge in your septic tank.
How much bleach will hurt a septic system?
A moderate amount equals 3/4 cup or the amount used for a toilet bowl cleaner. Over one gallon of bleach down the drain is enough to affect the septic tank's good bacteria and hamper sewage flow.
Are bleach toilet tablets safe for septic systems?
Yes. 2000 Flushes Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner is safe for plumbing and septic systems when used as directed. 2000 Flushes tablets should only be used in a toilet that is flushed regularly (at least once a week).
Is Clorox toilet bowl cleaner safe for septic systems?
Yes. When used as directed, Clorox® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - with Bleach is safe to use in septic systems. The bleach breaks down rapidly to mostly salt and water.
What bleach is suitable for septic tanks?
As a rule, standard household bleach should be fine for use with a septic tank as it is diluted and not strong enough to kill your tank's bacteria. However, it's best to avoid extra strong bleach. If your septic tank has a blocked pipe, it's best to try to unblock it using boiling water and without chemicals first.
Is bleach safe for drain pipes?
Pour bleach into them Bleach is a powerful, toxic substance that should be used carefully and properly, and pouring it down a drain is not a proper use. Bleach can react with other substances in your pipes, potentially release fumes, and further plug up the system.
What will ruin a septic system?
Any heavy chemicals such as bleach, motor oil, poisonous chemicals (even those for rats and bugs) are big no-no's for your septic tank. If you toss these down the drain you will be killing off all the good bacteria that help to break down waste and keep your system running the way it should.
How does an aerobic system work?
Aerobic systems must have a continuous supply of oxygen to keep the microbes healthy.
How to maintain aerobic wastewater treatment system?
To maintain an aerobic onsite wastewater treatment system properly, you must have extensive knowledge. This knowledge can help prevent injury to yourself, other people, the system components, and the environment.
Why is chlorine added to wastewater?
In this process, chlorine is added to the wastewater to reduce the number of pathogens in it . The chlorine oxidizes and destroys the cell enzymes of the pathogens. There are two types of chlorinators—tablet chlorinators and liquid chlorinators. Chlorine tablets release chlorine gas.
What are the hazards associated with wastewater treatment?
Common hazards associated with onsite wastewater treatment systems include disease- causing microorganisms, electrical shock, insects and animals, poisonous or explosive gases, exposure to sewage through cuts and abrasions, and confined space entry. This work increases your risk of sickness, physical injury, or death.
Why do we disinfect the effluent of a spray field?
For these systems, the effluent must be disinfected to reduce the risk of human exposure to pathogens. Although a spray field is like a lawn sprinkler, it should be viewed very differently. The water being distributed is treated wastewater—not drinking water. Residents and pets should avoid contact with it.
Where is the flow equalization tank?
To alleviate that problem, a flow equalization tank may be placed between the trash tank and the aeration chamber. The tank will hold the wastewater and send it to the aerobic treatment unit at a rate it could handle.
Where does wastewater go after it leaves the house?
Removal of gross solids (trash): After the wastewater leaves the house through a pipe, it enters a trash or septic tank, where the solids in the wastewater settle to the bottom or float to the surface.
What is chlorine tablet?
When disinfection of secondarily treated wastewater effluent is required and you are using chlorine tablets, it is important that you use a chlorine tablet that is made from calcium hypochlorite and is certified for wastewater disinfection by EPA. They are very reactive and will kill 99% of the bacteria present in the effluent within 10 minutes. Follow all warning and precaution statements of the chlorine tablet manufacturer to protect yourself and the system equipment.
What happens if you load sludge in aerobic wastewater treatment?
Improper or excessive loading will result in costly and more frequent pumping out of sludge from your aerobic wastewater treatment system. Homeowner is responsible for chlorine maintenance.
How long does it take for chlorine tablets to kill bacteria?
They are very reactive and will kill 99% of the bacteria present in the effluent within 10 minutes. Follow all warning and precaution statements of the chlorine tablet manufacturer to protect yourself and the system equipment. WARNING: Do not use swimming pool chlorine tablets in your disinfection system.
What kills microorganisms in wastewater?
Water softener discharge kills the micro-organisms in your wastewater treatment system.
Can you use chlorine tablets in a pool?
WARNING: Do not use swimming pool chlorine tablets in your disinfection system. The chlorine in these tablets are made from trichlorisocyanuric acid. Swimming pool tablets dissolve more slowly than calcium hypochlorite and do not throughly disinfect the effluent. Additionally, there is a danger of explosion using swimming pool tablets since the tablets will release an explosive gas called nitrogen chloride due to the fact that they are not totally immersed in water at all times while in use. They are not approved by EPA for wastewater effluent disinfection.
Is it safe to use pool tablets in a pool?
Additionally, there is a danger of explosion using swimming pool tablets since the tablets will release an explosive gas called nitrogen chloride due to the fact that they are not totally immersed in water at all times while in use. They are not approved by EPA for wastewater effluent disinfection.
Do aerobic plants kill bugs?
DON’T KILL YOUR BUGS! Your Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Plant is a "living" machine that houses a micro-organism "bug colony" that consumes organic waste. These micro-organisms require oxygen & appropriate "food" (organic waste devoid of toxins) to survive.
What is wastewater dispersal?
A final treatment and dispersal component where wastewater is disinfected and pumped for the ultimate dispersal of the effluent to the soil either by surface spray or subsurface drip irrigation.
What is an ATU?
ATUs are proprietary devices that aerate the septic wastewater to enhance microbial decomposition of dissolved and solid constituents and to reduce the population of microorganisms that can cause diseases to humans (pathogenic). It is essentially a scaled-down version of a centralized activated sludge wastewater treatment plant, which attains treatment by channeling the sewage through a series of tanks designed for solid-liquid separation, aeration, static clarification and disinfection prior to effluent dispersal. Sewage purification by an ATU is accomplished by the following components (Figure 1):
How much soil should be on top of aerobic tank?
In addition, the top of all components of the aerobic treatment system, excluding the trash tank and the dispersal field should be covered with no more than 24 inches of soil (ODEQ, 2012).
What is a clarifier in a tank?
A Clarifier where undecomposed particulates and microbial masses are given time to settle in calm conditions. In most systems used in Oklahoma, the Clarifier is a chamber built into the Aeration Tank.
What is vertical separation?
1 Vertical Separation: The vertical distance between the bottom of a subsurface trench or the wastewater application depth and the limiting subsurface layer which could either be an impervious rock layer or a water-saturated layer.
How big of a lot is needed for a sewage treatment system in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Standard 40 aerobic treatment systems may be installed in lot sizes of at least ¾ acre if drinking water is drawn from a private well onsite. If water is from a public water system, the minimum lot size requirement is ½ acre. In addition, it can only be installed for treatment of sewage from residential units and cannot be used when the average daily flow is less than 100 gallons per day (gpd) or greater than 1,500 gpd. If the daily flow fluctuates such that daily flow occasionally exceeds the unit’s daily capacity, an ATU may still be used if a flow equalization tank is installed between the trash tank and the aeration tank.
How deep should drip lines be in Oklahoma?
For systems with subsurface drip irrigation, the drip lines should be buried eight to ten inches deep and installed according to manufacturer specification.
What is aerobic treatment system?
Aerobic Treatment Systems (ATS) collect residential grey water and wastewater leaving homes and discharging the treated effluent on lawns in residential settings (Figure 1) . ATS installations are increasing in number throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (USEPA, 2000). ATS are viewed as a beneficial water conservation method because they recycle treated wastewater for outdoor irrigation. Proper operation methods and maintenance requirements are included to provide ATS owners/operators information to properly care for on-site septic systems. Concerns associated with ATS are also discussed to alert users to potential contamination to surface water that may result from poorly maintained or improperly installed systems.
When can ATS treated wastewater be discharged?
ATS-treated wastewater may only be discharged between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., with no exceptions (ODEQ, ASTS). Water clarity may be measured by a secchi disk (an instrument used for measuring water clarity) and the bottom of the holding or pump tank must be visible at all times.
Why do homebuilders prefer ATS vs septic?
Homebuilders and developers may prefer the installation of ATS compared to septic systems because they use less yard space and allow homes spaced closer when building a residential development (OEDQ, ASTS).
Do you need to add chlorine to a treatment tank?
Chlorine should be added per manufacturer instructions regarding disinfection. The homeowner is also responsible for adding chlorine to the treatment tank daily, as well as the cost of the chlorine. Chlorine must be deposited in the treatment tank by the homeowner (owner/operator) to treat the waste with chlorination disinfection prior to disposal through subsurface drip or spray irrigation (ODEQ, 2012).
How often should aerobic systems be checked?
All aerobic systems are required to be checked every 4 months per TCEQ regulations, even if your county doesn’t require a maintenance company to perform the service (there’s a lot more to servicing your system than just adding chlorine, not to mention the health risk of coming into contact with wastewater).
Why is the spray head purple?
They are pretty much the same if you are using a low angle nozzle. In Texas, the top is required to be purple to indicate the spray head is designated for wastewater. They are hard to find at hardware stores, so you could check with a local installer or maintenance provider to see if they sell spray heads or if they can give you the number to their supplier.
Where is the chlorinator in a Clearstream pump?
Some Clearstream systems have the chlorinator built in, some aren’t, and depending on the age/model of the system, the chlorinator may be inside the pump tank, between the aerobic and pump tank, or even installed directly into the lid.
What is aerobic system?
Aerobic systems are designed to treat domestic wastewater and toilet paper only. Things that can harm your system include:
What is the phone number for a septic system in San Antonio?
Call us for any of your wastewater systems needs and let our professionals help you with your septic installation and maintenance requirements: 210.698.2000 (San Antonio) or 830.249.4000 (Boerne).
Why do spray heads need to be sprayed out?
In short, the spray heads need to spray out (vs. seeping/pooling out) because final treatment of the wastewater occurs through the distribution over the vegetation. Part of the system design is to spray over a certain amount of square footage to evenly distribute the wastewater without saturating the soils.
What can cause the cost of maintenance and tank cleanings to be more expensive?
food (fruit, fruit peels, fruit juices, cola, wine, vinegar, salad oil, sugars, coffee grounds) dental floss. kitty litter. unused medicine. etc. Items such as these can cause the cost of maintenance and tank cleanings to be more expensive. DON’T allow alteration to any part of the system or spray head locations.
Why do clients need an illegal drug decontamination service?
Illegal drug decontamination is a crucial undertaking after drug-related incidents or drug use within a space and should be performed by a verified illegal drug decontamination company.
Is it safe to clean tear gas?
Cleaning tear gas is a dangerous and important task. Always hire a professional tear gas remediation company. Tear gas, also called a riot control agent, is used by law enforcement officials and military personnel in order to quickly disperse a crowd. The term refers to a variety of toxic aerosols including pepper spray and mace. These …
Why is aerobic growth explosive?
This is the reason that aerobic bacterial growth can be explosive. One bacteria can potentially spawn millions of offspring in a short period of time. Taking advantage of these dynamic and efficient living organisms in a septic system can greatly extend the life of any septic system.
What is the best oxidizer for anaerobic bacteria?
The choices for oxidizers in an anaerobic environment are, in general, poor when compared to the aerobic oxidizer, oxygen . Oxygen is one of the strongest oxidizers in nature and many times more likely to accept an electron than any of the anaerobic oxidizer candidates. The probability of an oxygen oxidizer accepting an electron is far greater than the probability of any of the anaerobic oxidizers accepting an electron. As a result, an aerobic environment will have dramatically more chemical processes occurring at any one time when compared to a similarly sized anaerobic environment. This is the reason that aerobic bacterial growth can be explosive. One bacteria can potentially spawn millions of offspring in a short period of time.
Is an aerobic environment more active than anaerobic?
It is a fact: aerobic environments are chemically more active than anaerobic environments.
Installation and Maintenance
The Trash Tank
Aeration Tank/Aeration Chamber
Clarifier Or Settling Chamber
Disinfection
- If spray irrigation is used as the mode of dispersal, then the effluent needs to be disinfected. If the effluent is dispersed by subsurface drip irrigation, disinfection is not required. Disinfection is performed after the effluent has gone through the clarifier, but before it is pumped for dispersal. The most common method of disinfection is by ch...
Dispersal
Maintenance
References
Benefits and Costs
ATS Operations
Certified Installer and Homeowner Maintenance and Requirements
Recent Research on Bacteria Concentrations from ATS
ATS Homeowner Recommendations
- Do not use ATS effluent to irrigate crops or consumable plants. Bacterial contamination is transmitted to humans or animals through contaminated water or crops (CDC, 2012).
- Do not allow children to play near ATS discharge effluent disposal field where ponding or soil saturation may occur and potentially cause illness (CDC, 2012).
- Do not discharge treated effluent near a stream or creek, potentially contaminating surface w…
- Do not use ATS effluent to irrigate crops or consumable plants. Bacterial contamination is transmitted to humans or animals through contaminated water or crops (CDC, 2012).
- Do not allow children to play near ATS discharge effluent disposal field where ponding or soil saturation may occur and potentially cause illness (CDC, 2012).
- Do not discharge treated effluent near a stream or creek, potentially contaminating surface waters (ODEQ, 2012).
- Do not allow animals to consume ATS -treated water.
References