A septic system is designed primarily to handle human waste. It can also handle toilet paper because that’s a light-weight paper product that’s biodegradable. However, other paper products and many other items should not be flushed down your toilet.

4 Items You Should Not Flush Through Your Septic System

1. Paper Towels

When it comes to using paper towels or other types of paper products, such as facial tissue, resist the urge to toss them into the toilet. Unlike toilet paper, these products won’t break down and may end up causing a blockage on their way to your septic tank. It may be helpful to keep a small wastepaper basket near the toilet to help prevent paper products from being accidentally flushed.

2. Sanitary Wipes

Sanitary wipes are misleading because the packages that they come in often advertise that they are flushable. Even so, these products are too thick and can cause clogs in your pipes. Many septic tank cleaning companies tell their customers to avoid flushing these products because they are a common cause of problems in the system.

3. Cat Litter 

Here is another product that manufacturers claim can be flushed, but, causes problems in your septic system. To begin, the flow of water isn’t strong enough to push the litter all the way through the pipes, which means the kitty litter can settle in the joints and contribute to future clogs and blockages. Additionally, the chemicals used in cat litter makes it harder to purify and treat the water. As a result of these chemicals, solid waste is no longer water-soluble, which poses a problem for water treatment facilities.

4. Medication

Over the counter drugs, supplements, and prescription medication pose significant environmental challenges. When drugs are flushed down a toilet, they contaminate the water, which can cause a problem as the treated wastewater is delivered back into a natural water source. When the drug-tainted water makes its way back into the environment, it can affect aquatic wildlife and may even contaminate nearby soil. The best thing to do is contact your local hospital or clinic and ask for instructions on properly disposing of your medication.

Gecko Enterprises offers experienced sewer services to homes and businesses throughout the Oahu, HI area. As a certified, licensed and experienced company, they can help you with the installation and care of your septic system. Visiting them online will provide you with more information about the company and its services. You can also call (808) 637-3240 to speak with a representative directly.