Keeping your on-site wastewater treatment system healthy
On-site wastewater systems rely on bacteria and biological processes to treat wastewater. Discharge of certain chemicals, products and medicines can kill good bacteria, and the discharge of materials that cannot be broken down can cause damage to the system, impacting its ability to work effectively.
Items to avoid putting into your system
To keep your system healthy and working properly, don’t put these items into your system, either directly, or via the plumbing:
- flushable wet wipes, liners, and sanitary products
- bleach and disinfectants
- oil, paint, petrol, and other flammable or explosive substances
- pool or spa backwash water
- storm water
- trade wastes.
Look after your system
- Use cleaning and personal care products that are ‘septic safe’ or ‘greywater safe’
- flush only human waste and toilet paper down the toilet
- scrap plates and pans before dishwashing, to reduce the amount of grease and fats entering the system
- spread out washing loads over the week to avoid overloading the system
- use water saving appliances and practices
- direct storm water away from the system.