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08-27-2012, 01:47 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 44
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home dump station
Will the average chemical added to a black water tank to control odor cause any grief with a residential septic tank and leach lines?
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08-27-2012, 02:24 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Florida Cooters Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Venice, Fla.
Posts: 507
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It depends on what you mean by average. Any chemical that kills bacteria can do the same in your septic tank. Your septic tank depends on bacteria to digest the sewage, so killing it off is not good. Also be aware that the volume of a full black tank with 40 gallons of sewage at one time may be overwhelming to your system.
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--Chuck
95 Newmar Kountry Star, Spartan Chassis, Venice, Fla
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08-27-2012, 02:27 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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If the additive contains Formaldehyde, that will kill the bacteria in your septic tank. If it contains active bacteria to break down solids, its a plus. You don't want a pure deodorizer, you want one that contributes to bacteria action. Read labels of what's available in your area.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-27-2012, 02:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C-PHartley
Also be aware that the volume of a full black tank with 40 gallons of sewage at one time may be overwhelming to your system.
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Seems to me that if 40 gallons would overwhelm your septic system, you've got problems. 40 gallons is little more than a bathtub full of water or a few dishwasher or washing machine loads. In addition, if you're off using the RV, your septic tank had a 'rest' anyway. Using a bacterial odor additive that adds to the bacteria is a benefit, not a problem.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-27-2012, 03:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 499
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40 gallons is a lot of concentrated aerobic sewage, but the average home system can handle it. If you have an older system nearing the end of it's life, you could empty the tanks over a period of days or weeks. But open the valve fully no matter how much you empty at once. I don't approve of any additive. Not even deodorants since they just waste your money for very little gain.
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A proper quick, brave, steady, ready gentleman!
2011 Sabre Silhouette 260BHS
2017 F-350 XLT CC DRW 6.7L
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08-27-2012, 03:41 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,927
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This is why I made a depression era septic system for my motorhome. I did not want to empty any chemicals into my home septic system.
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1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
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08-27-2012, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Richmond Hill, Ga.
Posts: 242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ga traveler
This is why I made a depression era septic system for my motorhome. I did not want to empty any chemicals into my home septic system.
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OK Ga Traveler, I'll bite. What is a depression era septic system? I have an idea but I had to ask.
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Steve & Cheryl w/3rd Crewmember Peanut, Our Deerhead Chiuaua
2000 Winnebago Adventurer 35U F53, V10 Gasser,Safe T Plus
2004 Wrangler Toad via Stowmaster 5000, BrakeBuddy Classic
Marriage is a relationship in which one is always right and the other is the husband
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08-27-2012, 04:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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I'm not sure what a 'depression era septic system' is. An old car buried in the yard? If you only use bacterial based deodorizers, I wouldn't hesitate to put into a septic system. It saves buying yeast or other products to rejuvenate the home system since you're adding bacteria with each dump.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-27-2012, 04:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
If the additive contains Formaldehyde, that will kill the bacteria in your septic tank.
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Not according to a Licensed Sanitation Engineer who inspected the installation of a sand filter system for a private campground. He said the problem comes when all the weekend campers empty their tanks and it floods the system. Normal use of formaldehyde won't hurt.
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2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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08-27-2012, 04:20 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
I'm not sure what a 'depression era septic system' is. An old car buried in the yard? If you only use bacterial based deodorizers, I wouldn't hesitate to put into a septic system. It saves buying yeast or other products to rejuvenate the home system since you're adding bacteria with each dump.
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But, respectfully, active and healthy home septic systems don't need any additive at all. The home septic system only requires time and a lack of oxygen. Don't waste time and money on anything.
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A proper quick, brave, steady, ready gentleman!
2011 Sabre Silhouette 260BHS
2017 F-350 XLT CC DRW 6.7L
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08-27-2012, 04:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Posts: 499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
If the additive contains Formaldehyde, that will kill the bacteria in your septic tank.
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Not according to a Licensed Sanitation Engineer who inspected the installation of a sand filter system for a private campground. He said the problem comes when all the weekend campers empty their tanks and it floods the system. Normal use of formaldehyde won't hurt.
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This is wrong information - most chemicals harm septic systems. Formaldehide certainly harms these systems and is harmful to the environment.
http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/gro...wastewater.pdf
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A proper quick, brave, steady, ready gentleman!
2011 Sabre Silhouette 260BHS
2017 F-350 XLT CC DRW 6.7L
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08-27-2012, 04:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,927
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I need to put this on tape, I have passed it on so many times. During the depression, people could get a ww1 tent from the government. They still wanted sewage. Being good old Americans They came up with a homemade septic system that was almost free. 55 gallon drums were easy to come by. you dig a hole big enough to hold 2 or 3 55 gal. drums. You drill 1/2 inch holes in the top two thirds of the drums. the bottom 1/3 is solid to hold the waste and bacteria. You attach a closet flange to the top of the middle drum. attach all three drums together with 4 inch plastic pvc pipe. you run the top 4 inch pipe out of the ground. Dig the hole about three times as long as the barrels and fill with gravel. You put a cleanout plug at the top of the pipe where it comes out of the ground. Cover the gravel with dirt and plant grass. All you have showing is a 4 inch cleanout plug. This is a working septic system. I built my first one in 1984 and it is still working today. PS I use plastic drums because they will not rust.
__________________
1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
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08-27-2012, 04:52 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lake OZ,MO summer-RiverBend Motorcoach Resort,FL winter
Posts: 715
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Here try this, natural and breaks down organics better than chemicals many other benefits too... InVade Bio Drain - Free Shipping
also is just a great holding tank cleaner. You never know what you might bring home in your holding tanks. This is a commercial product used by resturants, etc.
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♫ Happy Trails... to You ♪....., Until We Meet Again ♪..... ♫
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08-27-2012, 04:54 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 44
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Many different replies
Lots of different opinions. Our septic tank has an air pump that agitates and oxygenates the waste prior to pumping out to the leach lines. The black water tank was only 1/4 full so I'm guessing around 10 gallons or so. I wil be putting the coach away for a while and didn't want to store it with even a small load of stuff in the black water tank. We just bought a home in the foothills near Yosemite in California and I have a list of projects 3' long that will keep us home for a while. I'm thinking the tissue we use shouldn't be an issue since it's rated for rv use and the deodorizer is a dry product made by Exodor (Porta-Pack) with no formaldehyde. It's just the two of us so the septic system is busy only when we have company. We have never dealt with a septic system before and we are still learning the do's and don'ts.
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