Septic systems are not generally an environmental concern. Even the EPA on its webpage suggests no concern especially if used for the purposes intended-toilets, showers and wash basins-by humans!
Now, occasionally some folks will also set up a “floor drain” in the shop area and use it to wash the floor from dirt and grime. Now, recently a business owner approached me wanting my thoughts about his shop and the assessment an enviro company made concerning his shop floor drain-tied to the septic system.
Now understand this was a lawn service business that also offered spray fertilizer on lawns in the city and also note that public lawn fertilizers / used in conjunction with the typical residential lawn irrigation has been approved by most all municipalities stormwater sewer systems.
This big enviro firm, located FIVE states away from the subject, had findings of a REC because the lawn service would occasionally wash down their mowers, and that assuredly this “waste wash water” has collected in the septic tank the chemicals associated with typical lawn fertilizers!
Of course, they suggested a Phase II finding to get samples from not only the septic tank, but also the soil at the “fertilized” grassy drain field – a $5000 expense (on top of the cost of the Phase I).
OUR TAKE:
If fertilizers / chemicals which are approved for public lawns and thus will “drain” into the city’s sewer system, then assuredly the same chemicals are safe for private septic systems!