Septic tie in

A typical 5' bathtub holds 42 gallons if it's filled to the overflow drain. However with a person in it and not completely full, an average bath takes 20 to 25 gallons.

A typical washing machine on Large Load setting uses 40 gallons per load, but that is spread over two cycles, wash and rinse, of 20 gallons each. On Normal Load it only uses about 16 gallons per cycle.

However, since these devises are a long way away from the tank and the pipes between are very shallow slope the water sort of trickles in.

Put a 4" line right into the primary chamber and let loose 100 gallons and your asking for problems.

Mocoondo wrote:

travelnutz wrote:
Mocoondo,

A lot of exaggerating in your post!

Please cite, specifically and in detail, which items are exaggerations and factually why those items are exaggerations.

Please cite, specifically and in detail the damage that occurs from dumping a holding tank, and how long a system will last versus an valid, comparable system where holding tanks are not dumped.

Mocoondo wrote:
...a bathtub does not drain nearly as fast as a holding tank...sending 50 gallons of sewage straight into the septic at full force *will* disturb the sludge cap...

Some valid thoughts, but I'm not so sure about *will*

As those 50 gallons go down the pipe, they spread out, and can enter the tank pretty much as gently as a toilet flush- and then the "clean" water outlet might just work as designed.

These threads come up from time to time- and I've never seen anyone mention an instance where RV holding tanks damaged a septic system...

...just folks who have theories on how it MIGHT damage a septic system.

Again- your theory if valid, but I don't think you are going to be able to find any data that shows that a holding tank dump damages things.

I don't have any data that says it doesn't, but my theory is that 50 gallons hitting 1000 in a 2-minute time frame does not generate significant and damaging waves and turbulence...my theory is valid too.

what a bunch of s**t disturbing

LMFAO

opinions opinions opinions, we all have them I guess

I remember years back the CDC made a study of the effect on formaldehyde being added to septic systems from RV use and they concluded that any effect was momentary and the tank quickly recovered back to normal.
but yes, for heaven's sake, don't let your grey water touch the black water or the govt. will shut down for 2 weeks.
bumpy

The worst thing one can do with a septic system is to have a sink drain garbage disposal grinding system. Sludge build up and very fast! Non-cooked/softened foods take more time to depose in the septic tank and also the greases off dishes and bones/bone pieces etc ran thru the sink disposal goes right into the septic tank with the other hard to breakdown foods stuffs. Then there's the paper products that are constantly flushed down. "How to kill a septic tank system fast"

Ever look into the removed septic tank plug/cap hole and see the thick grease that's floating on top? Then imagine the increasing sludge build up on the bottom of the tank. It's an education for sure and will tell you why you should be carefull as the what other than soiled water you drain into it. Sure does reduce the bacteria active capacity of a septic tank if caution of what goes into the septic tank and it's not sludge pumped out as often as it should be.

That doesn't mean human waste or reasonable gray water from an RV as it's nearly all simply liquid by the time it's dumped after sloshing about in the holding tanks all the miles of driving to get the RV home. RV'ers with Porta Potti's or cassett toilets knows how quickly the solids break down into simply liquid in the holding tanks with any decent chemicals in them. We've used a 5 gal Porta Potti in the winter that sits in the shower base in our TC's for 30+ years and I've have never seen anything but liquid come out when I dump it. NO chunks ever!

travelnutz wrote:
Some of the gallons of fast input into septic tanks that has been posted on this thread is way off! 10-12 gallons per input shot is so entirely bogus. Where do some posters think that single shot of a bathtub with 30-40 gallons in it goes anyway? Let me help! If you have a septic system, right directly into the septic tank as fast as it can go!

I have to agree with others here. Exaggeration must be contagious.

To start, a bathtub does not drain nearly as fast as a holding tank. Neither does your dishwasher. Or your clothes washer. And guess what? Neither does your toilet.

On the other hand, sending 50 gallons of sewage straight into the septic at full force *will* disturb the sludge cap and you run the risk of sending sludge up and over the baffle and eventually out into your fields.

Nobody is saying that one dump of the holding tanks will destroy a septic system, but the negative effects are cumulative. The more you do it, the more you risk doing expensive damage to your septic system. So, are you saving enough money by dumping into your septic to offset premature repairs to your septic system? Only you can be the judge of that.

Some of the gallons of fast input into septic tanks that has been posted on this thread is way off! 10-12 gallons per input shot is so entirely bogus. Where do some posters think that single shot of a bathtub with 30-40 gallons in it goes anyway? Let me help! If you have a septic system, right directly into the septic tank as fast as it can go!

AND

It simply goes in the same septic tank EVERY time the tub is emptied and the septic tank doesn't even belch or refuse to take the whole shot every time! Now add in the washing machine wash and rinse water, the dishwasher waters, and don't forget to flush your toilets after each use by every member living there and that includes before or after you take that many gallon shower or basking in the filled bathtub. Might want to even wash your hands and who knows what else? God forbid if the kids would also turn on the water faucett and play in it for 15 minutes, maybe the whole neighborhood will soon be underwater!

Below is the accepted gov spec for septic tank size and daily water flow directly into it:

http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/download/006.pdf

Read and learn!

Tank inputs per day are from a low of 450 gallons to way over 1000 gallons! That's not a one day gallon total input but an accepted gov everyday 24/7/365 gallon input spec!

OHHH! BTW 3 of our 4 septic systems we own have only ONE tank with one compartment and we know that as a fact as we had each of them originally installed and none have every failed yet! One had to have a pressurized system as the drain field is 12" higher than the septic tank inlet from the dwelling so it has a separate small tank next to the big septic tank with a sump lift pump with a float switch only to pressure flow the liquid to the higher drainfield.

Septic systems vary greatly from area to area and region to region. One size, type, or method doesn't fit all! Check with your local health department as to what works or is required in your locality.

Also, there are about 20 plus other charts that mirror the one I had linked! Is everyone else wrong and the few scarey posters on this thread right?

travelnutz wrote:
Mocoondo,

A lot of exaggerating in your post!

Please cite, specifically and in detail, which items are exaggerations and factually why those items are exaggerations.

JaxDad wrote:
...A septic system is designed to take no more than about 10 to 12 gallons in a single shot...

Four words:

Bath tub
Washing machine

Hmm...