Questions & answers about materials or substances that should not be flushed into the septic tank.

This article series lists things that should not be flushed down drains and into septic systems (septic tanks); we also provide a printer-friendly list of these no-flush items.

Don't Flush Summary List FAQs

These questions and answers about our printable list of substances that ought not be flushed down a toilet were posted originally

at * NO FLUSH SUMMARY LIST - be sure to review that list.

On 2019-05-07 by (mod) - OK to pour pickle and olive juice down the drain?

Juice from olives, pickles, etc., at normal household usage levels, will not harm a septic tank nor drainfield. The volume is so slight that those often acidic substances are very dilute in the septic tank.

However in my OPINION, **IF** you were pouring large quantities of oils, such as olive oil in which some olives are packed, into a drain or septic system you risk oil clogging of the drain system if the drains are exposed to very low temperatures,

and **IF** you were pouring much larger quantities such as disposing of restaurant waste oils, you could cause a problem for the septic system as well as the drain system - food greases and oils and fats in restaurants and similar commercial facilities must be intercepted and disposed of as food waste or waste oil. (FOG interceptors are used).

Similarly, vinegar, a main ingredient in some pickle juices, disposed of at normal household usage levels won't harm a septic tank.

On 2019-05-07 by Terri

Is it ok to pour juice from green olives, pickles down the kitchen sink?

On 2018-11-26 by (mod) -

Tat

Thank you for the feedback and complement. We work hard to provide authoritative, researched, unbiased information and so of course I'm very grateful in our reader finds that work useful.

We welcome your questions, critique, and content suggestions.

On 2018-11-26 by Tat

Thank you so much for your reply: there are lots of conflicting info online regarding this topic. Thank you.

On 2018-11-25 by (mod) - flushing cat feces alone into a septic system will cause no harm.

Tate,

You're quite correct the flushing cat feces alone into a septic system will cause no harm.

However flushing kitty litter down drains risks drain clogs - as we've agreed.

On 2018-11-25 by Tate

I uderstand I shouldn’t flush kitty litter but what about cat solid waste (with no traces of any cat litter)? Can i flush cat poop into my septic?

On 2018-01-10 by (mod) - Ammonia NH3 is not registered as a disinfectant by the US EPA,

Ammonia NH3 is not registered as a disinfectant by the US EPA, Ammonia is broken down by some bacteria, releasing nitrates. Some bacteria thrive on NH3.

However ammonia, possibly at 5 to 10% solution, can kill some bacteria incding e coil and possibly other coliform bacteria found in septic systems.

Wikipedia adds

The U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a 15-minute exposure limit for gaseous ammonia of 35 ppm by volume in the environmental air and an 8-hour exposure limit of 25 ppm by volume.[74] NIOSH recently reduced the IDLH from 500 to 300 based on recent more conservative interpretations of original research in 1943. IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) is the level to which a healthy worker can be exposed for 30 minutes without suffering irreversible health effects.

On 2018-01-10 by Anonymous - ammonia kills septic bacteria?

How much ammonia would it take to kill the bacteria in your septic tank

On 2017-08-16 by (mod) - Vinegar into the septic tank?

Vinegar, disposed of at normal household usage levels won't harm a septic tank.

Using vinegar as a mild disinfectdant when cleaning a toilet bowl would also be harmless.

On 2017-08-16 by Kathleen Ludlow

Will vinegar upset the bacteria elements in the toilet

On 2017-07-24 1 by (mod) - ok to pour vermouth down the drains

Sure Marie, at normal household uses such as a bottle - one fifth of vermouth won't be enough alcohol to affect a septic tank. It's harmless.

However if you are operating a restaurant or bar and were to dispose of a much larger quantity of alcoholic beverages down a drain you might kill off septic tank bacteria.

On 2017-06-29 2 by marie

Is it safe to pour Vermouth down septic

On 2017-04-24 19:47:34.714658 by (mod) - effects of Lime Away® - not to be disposed-of into septic systems

Cherrie,

Lime Away is a professional de-scaling chemical or de-limer that, in the product MSDS includes the following warning:

Environmental precautions:

"Do not allow contact with soil, surface or ground water."

That would include septic systems.

EcoLab, a producer of LimeAway notes in the product literature:

For Industrial Use Only - Not For Household Use

Waste Disposal: The generation of waste should be avoided or minimized wherever possible. Avoid dispersal of spilled material and runoff and contact with soil, waterways, drains and sewers. Disposal of this product, solutions and any by-products should at all times comply with the requirement of environmental protection and waste disposal legislation and any regional local authority requirements.

\ Waste Classification: Unused product is D002 (Corrosive)

\ Consult your local or regional authorities.

Product literature: https://cdndadepaper.blob.core.windows.net/paper-images/a47c0899-f173-4160-9ec2-8b42d3a1e098.pdf

Product MSDS: http://sds.chemtel.net/webclients/cheneybrothers/10044975SDS.pdf

On 2017-04-24 by Cherrie

Is it safe to flush lime away in the septic tank

On 2016-05-21 by (mod)

Linda, please see CHEMICALS & CLEANERS into the SEPTIC TANK?

On 2016-05-21 by Linda mull

What chemicals should not be put in to house sinks and tubs and toilets that damage septic tanks

...

Continue reading  at * NO FLUSH SUMMARY LIST - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - master list of stuff to keep out of drains, toilets, septic tanks
• NEVER FLUSH INTO SEPTICS - list of absolute toilet-flush no-no's

Suggested citation for this web page

NO FLUSH SUMMARY LIST FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

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