Septic Tank and bleach

[twoheaped]

We have an old septic tank, definitely over 30 years old.
The owner before us cleaned her bathroom suite and toilet with white vinegar and nothing else. The toilet was beyond help and we replaced that not long after we moved in.
My dh is adamant that no bleach ever is to be used for cleaning. Consequently, the toilet smells like a men's urinal after a festival , sick not evny.
Surely there us something I can use that actually cleans, makes it smell a little sweeter and doesn't upset the septic tank.

The tank hasn't been emptied since 1990, so we are keen not to upset it.

The first thing to understand is that this is a septic tank and soakaway. Soakaway being an important part of the system. Therefore the liquid needs to get to the soakaway and then soak away! Cleaning out helps with this but an old tank may be compromised so if, in general it’s working, disturbance may cause a problem. However this is not a great position to be in. You should have one that is working effectively and can be cleaned out regularly. This is best for the system.

You have to appreciate the Water Company in your area will have rules about effluent and you need to put money aside to replace this system if foul sewage is leaking. That’s not environmentally ok.

The reason for smells is that the recent, undigested poo, is coming back up the system into the house. So get that looked at. It’s nothing to do with already digested, non smelly, poo. I just think you have a creaking system and it’s best not to assume these arrangements will last forever. They won’t.

When we moved in, the soakaway wasn’t working and neither was the old septic tank. When I used the washing machine, suds came back up through the manhole cover. The previous owners hadn’t done anything for 30 years and it simply didn’t work! Your drainage is important so look after it and replace it if necessary with the required permissions in place. Off grid doesn’t mean no maintenance.

To be fair to the OP she doesn't seem to be having issues with the septic tank itself and if she can see into it she can see if the levels are right. If it has a soakaway the tank works by the bacteria breaking down the solids and turning them into liquid and these get soaked away through the soakaway along with the water etc that is flushed. As such the solid level doesn't just build up and up and up. She doesn't have 30 years of poo in the tank.

If you don't empty it every now and again the effectiveness of the bacteria can be compromised (and this is also why you shouldn't use bleach).

We have lived in this house for ten years and the septic tank has been emptied twice in that time.

I do agree however that generally if smells are coming back up and they never have before then this is generally an indication that you should get the tank emptied.

Wrt cleaners there are lots of toilet cleaners now that don't contain bleach and are septic tank friendly. You just need to check the bottle.

Septic tanks are digesters, the solids are broken down by the bacteria which would be harmed by lots of bleach but not the amount on a cloth to wipe around a toilet bowl.

I've designed and built septic tanks, and trained others how to do it. It would be extremely unusual for a septic tank to be so large as to not need emptying in 30 years. There is a build up of sludge over time that needs emptying. The normal sizing requires emptying ever 2 - 5 years. Companies will tell you more often is necessary but it really shouldn't be unless the system is undersized or you are killing the bacteria that would be eating the solids. (This is to PPs not OP)

If the house has been empty for a while or underoccupied (for the size of the tank) it may be that it's now starting to fill up and smells are travelling back up the system. Dishwasher detergent is one product that wrecks septic tank bacteria.

You might want a different company to assess the situation especially if it's been a while since it was looked at. Where does the effluent (water from the tank) discharge to? You need to keep an eye on that for changes.

Please please say that your water source is uphill of your septic tank and any drainage field? If not you definitely need water treatment for bacteria. I know that's not the question you asked but it's really important!

Yes, our water source is higher. I have had that tested for biological and bacterial nasties as we are fed from a spring.

We have no neighbours, apart from cows. The septic tank is nowhere near the house and if it was to fail, it would spill onto barren scrub land with no water course close by.

The sinks/bath/shower do not smell, the problem is the smell of urine and my dh's reluctance for me to blast it with bleach.
We are in the process of having a new toilet, I think I will have a weekly bleach wipe round and see how we get on.

Everybody who has looked at it have said to leave alone until we need to.
We have a stash of money to throw at the problem as and when it occurs.

We have no water board who is in the slightest bit interested in our property, we deal with our own supply and waste, for somebody up thread who suggested they might have a vested interest.

That's good news about the spring you'd be amazed and slightly grossed out by the number of times that hasn't been the case.

Used sparingly, and not actually poured down the toilet you should have no problems with cleaning products. Anything that is actually going in should be septic friendly, but it sounds like you already know that.

They don’t have a vested interest (?), they have a legal interest. You cannot just dig a soakaway! Of course any water discharged into the ground goes into a water course somewhere! This is why they are interested and you have to apply for permission to change the soakaway. You need to get clued up because you are somewhat naive.

You need to get clued up because you are somewhat naive.

Agree!

OP “if it was to fail, it would spill onto barren scrub land with no water course close by.“
So there’s absolutely nothing living on this scrubland? No insects, birds or other wildlife?

Our septic tank and soakaway has worked fine for over 20 years no problems. Bleach when exposed to light loses its power hence it being in bottles that do not let the light in. I do use it carefully, do not put down sanitary towels nor wet wipes. I bleach a loo in the morning, leave it a few hours then flush. What we did do was have all the washing machine water put into a separate soakaway which travels down the garden under the drive and lawn. Perhaps that has helped.

Why would I be digging a soakaway ?
The spetic tank works fine. Two different firms, who could make money out of us, say it is fine.

There seems to be a misunderstanding here.
I am not asking about the septic tank per se, I am asking about keeping the toilet smelling fresh when it discharges into a septic tank.

If I was naive, I wouldn't have my spring water tested and my hydroram regularly serviced.
I am many things but naive isn't one of them.

Are you sure it’s the toilet? Our bathroom used to stink of drains if we didn’t use the shower often enough (had another bathroom we used more). We’d get a ‘dry trap’ as mentioned above. Just needed to chuck some water down it.

twoheaped I did explain about the life cycle of bleach which I always use, but there is scientific evidence out there if my explanation is not sufficient.

Biscuit we have a dry trap in the guest suite bathroom, jakers the stink from there is eye watering. As you say just run the taps to move it on.

Oh I see you say in your most recent post that it’s definitely the toilet.