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Safe Septic Tank Additives

By Tim Carter
©1993-2009 Tim Carter

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Summary: Septic systems can be harmed by putting certain additives in the septic tank. Septic tanks need bacteria to function properly. Harmful additives can kill the bacteria and cause major damage to septic systems, leading to costly septic tank problems, dysfunction of septic drain fields, and pollution of ground water.

Safe Septic Tank Additives

Tens of millions of people utilize septic systems to take care of sanitation needs on their property. It is no wonder that different additive companies target this market in an effort to push/sell products. Some of the additives are safe and cause no harm to the bacteria within the tank. Some additives destroy the bacteria.

The State of Washington took a leadership role regarding this topic. In 1993, the State Legislature found that "... most additives do not have a positive effect on the operation of on-site systems, and can contaminate groundwater aquifers, render septic drainfields dysfunctional, and result in costly repairs to homeowners ..." To make a long story short, the State of Washington's Department of Health started to study additives. They determined which ones were safe for septic systems with the intention of protecting consumers. Those additives that were approved are NOT warranted by the State of Washington to work. The approval simply means that the additive will not HARM the bacteria within the tank. For that reason alone, the results of their work are significant. At least you know the safe ones to buy. You then have to judge on your own if they work.

If you want the most updated list of additives that they deem to be safe, call, write or visit their web site:

• Washington State Department of Health - Community Environmental Health Program
  P. O. Box 47826
  Olympia, Washington 98504-7826
  www.doh.wa.gov
  

The most recently approved "safe" septic system additives, as of January, 2007, are as follows:

• Aquaterra GHSD-1 and LS-1472
  Aquaterra Biochemical Corporation
  
  
• Bio Blast
  Dr. Ricketts Nutritionals
  
  
• Biocharge
  In-sink-erator Division
  Emerson Electric Company
  
  
• Bi-Chem SM700
  Novozymes Biologicals Inc.
  
  
• Bio Choice ES
  Osprey Biotechnics
  
  
• Bio-Clean
  Kinzie & Payne Biochemical Corporation
  
  
• Bio-Green
  Delta Bioproducts International
  
  
• Bio Kleer S
  Bio Aqua Enterprises Inc.
  
  

Bio-Jet-7 Jet Inc. Bio-One One Biotechnology Bio Rooter Drain Maintainer Western Drain Supply Break-Thru Septic Tank & Cesspool Maintenance Hercules Chemical Company Break-thru Septic Tank & Cesspool Restorer Hercules Chemical Company Rid -X Septic System Treatment Reckitt Benckiser Inc. Drain Care-Septic Tank Treatment Enforcer Products Inc. Drain Out Enzyme Septic Treatment Iron Out Inc.

• Drain Care Liquid Septic Tank Treatment
  Enforcer Products Inc.
  
  
• Drano Plumbing System Buildup Remover
  S C Johnson & Son Inc.
  
  
• DWT 360 Septic Tank Maintainer / WT 360 Waste Degrader
  Tri-Synergy Inc.
  
  
• Eco-Save ES-700
  Eco-Save Products
  JWH Distributing
  
  
• Enviro-Culture
  Bio-Energy Systems
  Inc.
  
  
• Grease Tank Treatment
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Greenpig Septic Tank Treatment
  Greenpig
  Inc.
  
  
• GSI 4000
  General Supply Inc.
  
  
• HMS Septic Tank Maintenance
  Greenpig
  Inc.
  
  
• Instant Power Septic Shock
  Scotch Corp.
  
  
• Instant Power Septic System Treatment
  Scotch Corp.
  
  
• Liquid Alive
  Dymon Inc.
  
  
• L.E.A.D. Enzyme Digestant
  Formula Corp.
  
  
• Liquid Live
  Formula Corp.
  
  
• Liquid Plumr Septic System Treatment
  Clorox Co.
  
  
• Microbe Lift
  Ecological Laboratories
  
  
• Microbe-Lift Septic Tank Powder Packets
  Ecological Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Microbe-Lift/ST Septic Digestant
  Ecological Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Plumb-Clean
  Kinzie & Payne Biochemical Corp.
  
  
• Pro-Pump Cold Weather Powdered Digestant
  Ecological Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Pro-Pump Powdered Digestant for Septic Tank and Leachfields
  Ecological Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Pro-pump Septic Digestant
  Ecological Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Push
  Betco Corporation
  
  
• Rid-X Professional Septic System Treatment + Drain Maintainer
  Reckitt Benckiser Inc.
  
  
• Roebic K-37 Septic Tank Treatment
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roebic K-47
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roebic K-57
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roebic K-87 Soap Digester FMP Soap Degrader
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roebic K-97 Mainline Cleaner
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roebic Liquid Grease Degrader
  Grease Trap Treatment
  Roebic Laboratories Inc.
  
  
• Roto-Rooter Septic & Cesspool System Treatment (Dry)
  Changing Paradigms
  
  
• Roto-Rooter Septic & Cesspool System Treatment (Liquid)
  Changing Paradigms
  
  
• Roto-Rooter Treatment for Septic Tanks and Cesspools
  Roto-Rooter Corp.
  
  
• Sea-Zyme Septic Tank Digester 2000
  Century Products
  
  
• Septic Helper 2000
  Shar Lane Distributing Co.
  
  
• Septic-Scrub Drainfield Flow Restorer
  Arcan Enterprises, Inc.
  
  
• Septic Tank Aids
  Heartland Labs Division of A&V, Inc.
  
  
• Septonic Septic Tank Additive
  AHT Field & Co.
  
  
• Shactivate Sewage Digester
  Shar Environmental Products Inc.
  
  
• Sludgehammer Blend
  Pirana ABG Inc.
  
  
• Super Pack Bacteria
  Septiclear Inc.
  
  
• Ultra Green 3 Enzyme Cleaner
  Iron Out Inc.
  
  

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