I have a question that involves the fact that I am on a well, and Septic system. I am not as concerned about the well water, if I were I would just buy bottled watter locally. The Septic system however relies on bacteria to function. Will the ingredients used in winemaking, especially the sanitizer affect the Septic system? Should I use a different way of disposing of sanitizer water?
Do you use bleach in you clothes washing? Bleach is also a sanitizer. If the quantity of wine sanitizer you use is no more than the amount of bleach you use, then probably the amount is not enough to seriously impact the bacteria in the septic system. But I don't live on a septic system, so I don't have first hand knowledge. I'll defer to those who have direct experience.
Gene
" Will the ingredients used in winemaking, especially the sanitizer affect the Septic system? Should I use a different way of disposing of sanitizer water?"
Depends on volume. If it's a single 5-gallon carboy with some Iodophor OK. But if you are filling 30 gallon trash cans with Chlorox solution to soak off bottle labels this volume won't help your system. I don't put any winemaking or beer making waters thru. the septic system...I pump to the outside using a sump pump.
Bill Frazier Olathe, Kansas USA
I'm with Bill - All my winemaking rinses just go into a gravel area outside, instead of into the septic system. I had the room so I hooked up a utility sink to a hose (with some creative plumbing and two trips to Lowe's) for all my wine-cleaning needs.
Rob
Mark , I did exactly the same as Bill and Rob. Slop sink to sump pit to side yard. For heavy stuff like lees, that I don't want in the pit & pump, I carry it out and dump it on the compost pile.
In general, it's good not to put unnecessary antimicrobial agents(bleach, some soaps, hydrocarbons, etc) in the septic system.
The guy who pumps out my septic system recommends against any of the commercial sludge reducers such as rid-x, he says the best thing for the system is a shot of bleach once in a while. I use regular liquid laundry soap, no bleach. I also told him I make wine, is the yeast OK for the system. He was a bit skeptical. He said a little is OK, but not if there is a lot.
For my sanitizing I first use a bleach solution, then the k-meta solution. This is for glass. For my primaries, I rinse with hot water and pour the heavy lees outside on the ground. The same with any lees in secondary. I then just wash out my primaries with regular dish liquid and rinse excessively, then finish with a swirl of k-meta.
Greg, Erie, PA
Well, that makes four of us for the record. Like Mike, all my heavy stuff goes onto the compost pile. Out here in California's share of the Great Mojave Desert, our soil is very alkaline so heavy doses of acids is a good thing for the gardens to help lower the pH. When I moved out here I gave up my darkroom because of the chemistry and its possible harm to the septic system. Now, with digital photography, I don't even have to worry about the cost of sending stuff off to the labs. But that's off the subject. I do, by the way, "feed" my septic system with an occasional slug of yogurt, sometimes with soured milk or moldy cheese. It isn't deliberate, just something that happens from time to time. Yep, I think you should avoid putting the sanitizers into the septic system.
Unequivocally NO. The only thing that's good for is killing off your population of digestive bacteria, and calling him back more often, of course. Research any county extension site, etc. for the facts. It sounds like your septic guy is either ignorant or dishonest.
I use regular liquid
Extensive studies have shown no appreciable effects of adding yeast or yogurt to septic systems. Most chemical treatments are usually harmful to an established septic microbial population. There are dried, live culture bacterial additives available, and though some people discredit them, I use one in my septic system (and Koi pond) with dramatic results.
Greg, k-meta just isn't a surface contact germ killer. It works by slowing the metabolism of actively growing cells by interfering with certain enzymes, like dehydrogenases. To do this it needs to with the living, growing cells, and that's not what's usually present on container surfaces. Rinsing, spraying or wiping objects with k-meta does basically bupkus. Great as an antioxidant though.
Chlorine, bromine, iodine and oxygen (as peroxide, as in Oxy Clean), on the other hand ARE effective microbe killers on surfaces. So are quaternary ammonium salts, like benzalkonium chloride. The first group are simple chemical oxidizers which go after anything in sight,while the "quats" seem to act by breaking up the cell membranes of germs, killing them.
Pardon my long windednesson this topic, but the superstitous use of k-meta is a pet peeve of mine ;-)
if you want. I am in the same setup, and did some research on septic issues.
you can kill everything in you septic system if you want. you'll add more bacteria to it as soon as you use the toilet.
as for the other posters RID-X and other treatment systems are usualy nothing more than yeast or yeast nutrient in a fancy box. google a bit and you'll see.
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