Medications in Septic Systems
As a society, we’ve become a bit jaded about our plumbing system. What with modern technology, people seem to assume that we’ve reached a point where flushing anything could be acceptable. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are countless cases every year of items flushed that cause backups and even burst pipes. But medications should be okay, since they are so small and will dissolve in water, right? Wrong! The correct answer is that NOTHING should go into your drain besides toilet paper and wastewater. Flushing medications could have a dire impact on your system. Think of your septic system not as an object, but as a living environment. Your system is full of bacteria who only exist to break down human waste. Introducing foreign chemicals such as antibiotics, anti-inflammitories, or antivirals to your tank could cause an imbalance in the delicate ecosystem. This could weaken or even kill the bacteria in the tank. This will cause waste to build up much faster. It could eventually lead to issues with your drain field. Not to mention you could also be contaminating groundwater. Even the most vigilant homeowner could have something enter the tank by accident. Some material may even