Will modest amounts of antifreeze kill septic system?
Matthew Wade Woodruff
If I winterize a house by adding a small amount of (approved)
antifreeze to the sink traps, toilets, etc., will it nuke the
septic system when it flushed out in the Spring?
What is the short/long term environmenal consequence of dumping
even modest amounts of anti-freeze into the leach field and
water table?
Is there a biodegradable/environmentally-friendly/"green" anti-freeze
available or am I being a little too obsessive here?
Thanks,
--
Matthew W. Woodruff Tel: (212) 754-9400
wood...@panix.com
Tom Ruta
Woodruff) wrote:
...
>If I winterize a house by adding a small amount of (approved)
>antifreeze to the sink traps, toilets, etc., will it nuke the
>septic system when it flushed out in the Spring?
>
No - as long as you use RV Antifreeze (NOT auto antifreeze)
>What is the short/long term environmenal consequence of dumping
>even modest amounts of anti-freeze into the leach field and
>water table?
>
Basically zero.
>Is there a biodegradable/environmentally-friendly/"green" anti-freeze
>available or am I being a little too obsessive here?
No -- buy RV Antifreeze. A gallon is two bucks and will easily do the
average housr/cottage.
Tom
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nos...@worldnet.att.net
wrote:
>One in a continuing series of questions by a newbie homeowner:
>
>If I winterize a house by adding a small amount of (approved)
>antifreeze to the sink traps, toilets, etc., will it nuke the
>septic system when it flushed out in the Spring?
>
>What is the short/long term environmenal consequence of dumping
>even modest amounts of anti-freeze into the leach field and
>water table?
>
>Is there a biodegradable/environmentally-friendly/"green" anti-freeze
>available or am I being a little too obsessive here?
>
Regular automotive antifreeze is ethylene glycol based. Extremely
poisonous (and unfortunately for dogs and cats, very sweet tasting).
I am guessing that by "approved" you are referring to the propylene
glycol based antifreeze used for boat and RV water systems. I would
not expect small amounts to harm a septic system or have much effect
on streams (but have no direct experience).
Propylene glycol is a food additive! Can't get safer than that I
guess. It is biodegradable, but does apparently creates a high BOD
when dumped into a stream. That is apparently why recycling is
recommended by some.
Protecting the water table from contamination makes good sense - not
obsessive at all.
R