What not to flush or pour with a septic system
EPA's rule of thumb: don't flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper [1].
Never flush (EPA list)
- Cooking grease or oil
- Non-flushable wipes, including baby wipes and other wet wipes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Condoms
- Dental floss
- Diapers
- Cigarette butts
- Coffee grounds
- Cat litter
- Paper towels
- Pharmaceuticals
- Photographic solutions
- Household chemicals such as gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, paint, and paint thinners
At the sink
A septic system depends on living organisms to break down waste. EPA advises [1]:
- Avoid chemical drain openers. Use boiling water or a drain snake instead.
- Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
- Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain, and keep latex paint waste to a minimum.
- Limit or stop using a garbage disposal. Food waste adds solids, which means more frequent pumping.
Protect the drainfield
- Don't park or drive on it.
- Plant trees far enough away that roots can't reach the system. Ask a septic professional for the right distance.
- Keep roof drains, sump pumps, and other rainwater away from it [1].