Sterilizing dilemma.

[Graeme]

I'm thinking about getting into brewing my own beers, but I could do with some advice about sterilizing. I live in an area which is NOT connected to mains drainage, and therefore have a septic/ seepage tank. Problem is, if I use bleach, I will kill the bacteria that make the tank work. Result - tank full of stuff I don't really want to think about, and a god awful smell which will ruin any BBQ's I have in the garden. Likewise, I don't have a dishwasher because the detergents are harmful to the tank. So, what to do? Are there any products or methods I can use which will NOT harm my septic tank. Thanks in advance for any help.

[toneyc]

I am in a similar situation. I hadn't given much thought to the bleach solution harming the septic system. The small amount of bleach that we use for a 5-gallon batch should not be enough to adversely affect a 1000-gallon septic system. I have avoided the problem entirely, however, by pouring my used solution out in my driveway where I don't really want grass to grow anyway. Septic systems are a lot more resilient than many people think. While I cannot claim to have never had septic system problems, I've lived at my current location for 20 years with a dishwasher, clothes washer, and garbage disposal all going into the septic tank.

:) Toney.

[Graeme]

Thanks Toney

I guess I need to find out more about septic tanks. I've lived here for 2 years, and am going on info given to me by 1 person. I think your solution to dispose of bleach on the drive is good, as this will save on nasty weedkiller chemicals.

Thanks again.

[paul84043]

As long as you're using relatively safe sanitizers like small amounts of bleach, Iodophor, or my favorite, Star San, you can pour it out on the ground with no problem.
You could also step up your septic system maintenance by adding one of the well known enzyme addatives to keep things super active in there.
My in-laws have had a septic tank for 35 years, they have all of the common appliances, dishwasher, washer, stuff like that. As far as I know, they have never had a problem...

[Tweek]

I brewed in a Mountain home with a septic systems for many years. I wouldnt go dumping some of the sanitizers such as bleach/plc/star san down the drain personally, but that is just me you could prob get away with it if you wanted to. The thing about places that have septic systems is that there is almost always another spot where you can just "dump" your water with the cleaning solution in it. For that matter when I was on septic I let my wort chiller water just run into the bushes. Septics do fill up and man are they expensive to get cleaned. The main thing I was always worried about when I brewed especially in the winter was saturating my leech fields so I always avoided dumping large quantities of water down the drain.

[toneyc]

I have heard conflicting reports on the enzymatic additives. I've tried to do some research on the 'net about them and really haven't come to any conclusions except for one fact that gives me pause: in some states, it is illegal to add them to your septic system. I have used them in the past and really can't tell if they do any good or not. Me not know.

:) Toney.

[Graeme]

Thanks chaps,

I'm going to give a go when I can find a decent starter kit and I know a little more about the process. Meanwhile, I think I'll leave those lovely micro-organisms in the tank alone, after all, they do such a good job and I just pay them crap. However, the weeds must die so I'll bleach the drive.

Thanks again

Graeme