When you buy a car, you are given an owner’s manual with instructions on how to care for your car. Septic systems can cost as much or more than a car, unfortunately nobody gives you a manual when they are installed. Some people don’t even know they have a septic system! As a result, many septic systems fail unnecessarily.

The Price for Failure is Steep

The price for failure is steep in two ways. More than 1200 people in the US die each year from contaminated water, and failing septic systems are a leading source of waterborne disease outbreaks in the country today. In a 2000 EPA report, 31 states listed septic systems as their second greatest potential source of groundwater contamination. Septic system replacement is also very expensive, with costs often running from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Fortunately, there are some highly effective, ineffective steps you can take to eliminate this problem. Before discussing solutions, let’s look at why septic systems fail.

Septic system maintenance is actually pretty easy to understand. When a system fails, the tank itself doesn’t fail- the drainfield soil fails. In most cases the soil fails when it gets plugged up with solids and won’t allow liquid to pass through it. For example, it can get plugged with solids from the tank if the tank hasn’t been pumped, or with lint from a washing machine. Now for your solutions:

1. Use a washing machine filter.

Did you know that washing machines are a leading cause of septic system failure? The primary culprit is lint generated by washing machines, which clogs the soil in drain fields. Did you know that a typical family washing machine produces enough lint each year to carpet and entire living room floor! Lint screens and nylon traps found in hardware stores trap 5% or less of these particles. Because they are so light and small, the lint particles do not settle out in the septic tank. Instead, they stay in suspension and are flushed out to the drain field, where they plug up the pores of the soil bed.

To compound the problem, much of our clothing is now manufactured with synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. These substances are not biodegradable, and will not break down in a septic system. Instead, they accumulate and plug the soil. Once these materials enter the soil, there is no way to remove them.

The good news is that lint can be prevented from entering the septic system through the use of a reusable, inline filter which attaches to your washing machine discharge hose. The filter, called the Filtrol 160, retails for $139.95.

2. Avoid Excessive Water Use
You can also damage your septic system by doing a large number of laundry loads in a short period of time. In standard septic systems, solid materials settle in the tank, while effluent flows out into the ground. If you put more water into the system than it is built to handle, the high volume of water will flood your system, and can also stir up and flush solids out of the tank into the drain field (in fact, septic pumpers use water from their hoses to help break up solids in your tank before pumping them out). A typical washing machine can use up to 60 gallons of water per wash load. On a heavy day you can easily put 400, 500 or 600 gallons of water through the system in a few hours. The solution is to spread out your water use. Do one or two loads of laundry per day, rather than 10-12 loads on Saturday morning. Water softeners can also damage your system by putting too much water through the septic system. These devices can put several hundred gallons of water down the drain every week, water that is not contaminated and does not need to go through the treatment process.

There are a couple solutions to this problem. You can upgrade your softener with a newer efficient model that uses less water and regenerates on demand, instead of a timer system that regenerates whether you use water or not. You can also install a mini septic system for your water softener.

3. Prevent Solids from Leaving the Tank

First of all, you should get your tank pumped on a regular basis to prevent excessive accumulation of solids in the tank. Under normal conditions, you should have the tank inspected and pumped every 1-3 years. Very important: tanks should be pumped and inspected through the manhole cover, not the inspection pipe. Your septic contractor should also install an effluent filter in the exit baffle of the tank. Effluent filters stop the larger solids from getting out to the drain-field. They are cleaned out every few years when you have your tank pumped. They are usually only about $80. Effluent filters are cheap insurance and along with a washing machine filter, one of the best things you can do to protect your system.

4. Use of Household Cleaning Products
Excessive use of these products can contribute to septic system failure. If you do over 5 loads a week containing bleach, problems could arise. Avoid powdered detergents as they contain plastic fillers that can plug up your lines and drain field. Also, be careful with harsh automatic toilet bowl cleaners, which have put quite a few systems out of commission.

5. Should I Use a Separate System for My Washing Machine?
Some people say you should use a separate system for your washing machine, called a laundry interceptor. However, this is not necessary and in fact undesirable. Washing machines should discharge into the regular system because it actually works better than discharging into its own system. In order to work, septic systems require bacteria colonies which break down biodegradable matter. These bacteria require “food” which is found in our wastewater, but not in detergent. Without “food” these bacteria colonies die out and the system fails. Many people who have installed these systems have found this out the hard way. A research project conducted in several east coast states utilized some rather high tech systems for washing machine discharge and many began failing in as little as eight months.

Maintenance Tips:

Do: divert surface runoff water from roofs, patios, driveways and other areas away from your drainfield.
Have your septic tank pumped regularly. It should also be inspected for leaks, cracks and to make sure the exit baffle is in place.
Install lint and effluent filters.
Spread out your laundry loads.
Compost your garbage or put it in the trash

Don’t:
Use a garbage disposal.
These appliances normally double the amount of solids added to the tank!
Flush sanitary napkins, disposable diapers or other non-biodegradable products into your system.
Dump solvents, oils, paint thinners, disinfectants, pesticides or poisons down the drain as they can disrupt the treatment process and contaminate the groundwater.
Dig in your drainfield or build anything over it.
Drive over your drainfield or compact the soil in any way.
Plant trees or shrubbery close to the septic system, because the roots can get in the lines and plug them. Grass is the only thing that should be planted on or near a drainfield.

If Your System Fails
In quite a few cases, a tune-up can fix your system and you can avoid the high costs of replacing the system. This tuneup includes properly pumping the tank, cleaning (jetting) the drainfield lines, and installing washing machine and effluent filters. If these measures are not sufficient, some failed systems can be rejuvenated by fracturing the soil. This process utilizes a hollow tube inserted into the soil, then a 300 pound blast or air is injected into the soil creating thousands of tiny fissures. These fissures allow the drainfield to drain, creating an oxygen atmosphere and the aerobic bacterial colonies to repopulate. Aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen, typically live in the top 26 inches of the drainfield and process waste much more quickly than anaerobic bacteria. This process can be performed in a matter of hours with no digging or damage to the yard. One company which performs this service is Terralift International (http://www.terraliftinternational.com).

If you have a clay soil which has become plugged due to sodium from wastewater binding with the clay, Septic Seep can help. These product releases sodium bonded clays and reopens soil, restoring passages air and water. It also has the benefit of dispersing greases and scums that clog the soil.

Read very carefully if you have a septic system!!
Your laundry habits can ruin your septic system if you are not careful. Lint from washing machines is one of the leading causes of expensive septic system failure. Fortunately there is a new invention called the Filtrol 160 which hooks up to a washing machine and solves this problem by catching lint at the source. In addition to using a lint filter to prevent this problem, it is also very important to avoid overloading the system with water. Spread out your laundry loads, i.e. don’t do all your loads on Saturday morning. Also, make sure to wash your clothes with a liquid detergent, powdered detergents often contain fillers which can plug up the drain field and lines. For more information on septic system maintenance, you can go to http://www.laundry-alternative.com/septic_system_maintenance.html.

Brighten Colors with Salt
Hard water can cause clothes to become dull or dingy after several washings. To solve this problem, add a couple of pinches of ordinary table salt to the washer with the detergent. Let some water run in the washer to dissolve detergent and salt, then add clothes. Colored clothes will come out much brighter.

Delicates
Think you have to take that sheer voile blouse, beaded top, fringed silk shawl, or lace trimmed dress to the cleaners? Think again! You can clean these at home by simply tying the articles in a cotton pillow case, knotting it closed, and washing in cold water on regular cycle. Beads, sequins, buttons and delicate laces will not fall to pieces, and garments can be restored by steam ironing or steaming in the shower!

Diapers
Do you hate dunking diapers in the toilet? There is now a new invention called the Little Squirt which eliminated this dreaded task. It is is powerful sprayer that attaches to the water supply for your toilet. Instead of dunking, you simply spray the contents of the diaper into the toilet. More information and a picture is available at http://www.laundry-alternative.com/washing.html.

Down
As a general rule, down items should be cleaned twice a year- once before you start wearing them, and before you put them away after the winter season. Down can be washed or dry-cleaned, read your care label for instructions. You’re better off taking large items that require a lot of washer and dryer space (i.e. comforters) to the laundromat, which has larger machines. Be careful not to tumble dry down items at a temperature greater than 140F, or water-resistant shell fabrics can slow drying.

Blood, Fresh & Dried-
Rinse fresh blood stains in cold running water and rub with soap. Repeat. For dried stains, first scrape or rub off as much dried blood as possible. Soak in warm water using a product which contains enzymes. Wash. If this doesn’t work, rewash the item using a chlorine-free bleach. In the case of stubborn stains, rust removers may be helpful.

Coffee, Tea-
Presoak item in liquid detergent with bleach. Wash using the hottest water temperature that is safe for the fabric.

Cosmetics-
Dampen stain and rub with liquid detergent. Rinse, then wash.

Dingy White Socks-
Presoak in a liquid detergent solution for a minimum of 30 minutes. Wash in a liquid detergent which contains oxygen bleach. Food Coloring Soak in cool water. If stain remains, rub on detergent and rinse. Wash.

Fruit Juice, Wine & Soft Drinks-
Soak stain in cool water as soon as possible. Then, soak in an oxygen bleach, using the hottest water safe for the fabric. Wash.

Mud-
Brush off as much as possible when garment is dry, then rinse under cold running water. Pretreat with a paste of powder detergent and water, or liquid laundry detergent. Wash using laundry detergent and a fabric-safe bleach.

Rust Stains-
The yellow, orange or brown spots we sometimes find on our clothes may be caused by rust. Iron content of over .2 parts per million in your water supply can cause these type of stains, so it’s important to have your water supply checked. Two possible sources can be rust water pipes or water heaters. One way to combat this problem is by using a mechanical water softener with an iron filter. Also, using a non-chlorine bleach can help, as chlorine bleach may cause the iron in the water to precipitate on fabrics and leave stains.

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) _ More news from the guy who warned about dangerous germs lurking in your kitchen sponges and dishrags and the muck in your office coffee cup: Your washing machine may not be as safe as you think either.

Environmental microbiologist Charles Gerba spends most of his time researching water quality. But he also enjoys hanging around in other people’s homes, mostly in their bathrooms and kitchens -professionally, of course- searching for environmental hazards.

And boy, has he found them in abundance.

For instance, Gerba, a microbiology professor in the University of Arizona’s soil, water and environmental sciences department, warned that bacteria such as E-coli and salmonella can be rampant in kitchen sinks, on counters and on cutting boards, often spread by sponges and dishrags contaminated by meat or poultry. Or as he puts it, “There are a hundred times more bacteria on a cutting board than a toilet seat, so lick a toilet seat rather than a cutting board.”

Now, he’s found similar dangers in the home laundry. “It hadn’t been studied in the home very much,” Gerba says.Most laundry studies for the presence of pathogens- disease-causing microorganisms- have been done in hospitals, he says.

His most recent study, of 50 homes in Tucson and 50 others in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area, has found that coliform bacteria, an indicator of unsanitary conditions, including the presence of diarrhea-causing E-coli, abound in many washing machines. Some linger even a load after you’ve washed your underwear, he says.

“They originate in feces, and we found that 60 percent of the washing machines had coliform bacteria. We just went in and swabbed your washing machine,” Gerba said. “And about 10 percent had E-coli in it.”
Next, Gerba and his researchers found that 40 percent of sterile cloths washed in non-bleach laundry contained fecal bacteria. “We found that when you did clothes with underwear in it, it contaminated all the laundry. In fact, there was enough left over to contaminate the next wash load,” he said.

Bacteria such as salmonella, which causes food poisoning, and viruses including hepatitis A and those most commonly causing childhood diarrhea, rotavirus and adenovirus, also were targeted. While E-coli was killed in the permanent press drying cycle, some salmonella survived on clothes that registered 131 degrees Fahrenheit. So did hepatitis A, adenovirus and some rotavirus.

Is Gerba painting too foul a picture? “We don’t think it’s the problem Mr. Gerba does,” said Linda Eggerss, a spokeswoman for the Maytag Corp. of Newton, Iowa, which makes washers and dryers. “At this point, we might consider it a bit alarmist, because there are so many things so much more dangerous about bacteria around us. We think that washers and dryers are very, very safe and very, very clean, and if you’re using bleach, you can’t get much cleaner than that.”

In February, Procter & Gamble announced a reformulated version of Tide, its top-selling laundry soap, as a sanitizing detergent with bleach.

“We worked to meet the criteria of the EPA to say that it could sanitize laundry,” spokeswoman Molly Humbert said in Cincinnati. “We’ve heard that consumers are already concerned about bacteria in the laundry. We have data that shows that bacteria can survive
the current washing process.”

The key problem is how people launder their clothes today. Most use cold water, or at most, warm. In fact, industry experts suggest that only 5 percent of Americans still use hot water any more for their laundry.
And use of bleach is much less routine today than a generation ago. A national study commissioned for the Oakland, Calif.-based Clorox Co., which makes bleach and financed Gerba’s laundry study,shows that only 15 percent of all washloads - though half of those with whites use bleach, spokeswoman Sandy Sullivan said.

What’s more, wash cycles now average about 12 minutes, and dryer cycles average only 28 minutes, Gerba said. That means that some harmful bacteria, and especially viruses, are able to survive the rigors of normal washing and drying. And under the proper conditions, they regrow. Ingesting from 100 to 1,000 pathogenic bacteria can infect someone; it takes only one to 10 viruses to accomplish the same job, Gerba said.

Most of the contamination, and greatest risk, occurs when a person gets bacteria on his hands in transferring the wet laundry to the dryer, he said. If laundry facilities are next to the kitchen, there’s a good chance that after putting washed laundry in the dryer, the person will prepare food or bring his fingers to nose or mouth. “You contaminate yourself and get the illness from those organisms,” he said. Gerba will present his findings in June at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting in Chicago. He said his team usually approaches a major industry player to finance home health hazard studies and accepts criticism for his reliance upon such companies to provide grants. Realistically, he added, the federal government can’t be expected to finance such work.

His findings are published in peer-review journals - he’swritten more than 400 papers - and he’s highly regarded within the scientific community, and Gerba said it’s important to have studies repeated by others.
Clorox’s Sullivan said there’s an easy solution to the laundry issue. “At the end of your wash, run an empty cycle and put bleach in. You don’t even need hot water. It’s much like you disinfect your countertops,” she said. Or, as Gerba calls it, “kind of giving your machine a mouthwash at the end.”

Our note:
We don’t agree with all opinions expressed in this article- especially the recommendation to use bleach, an environmental pollutant. However, we published this article because it is food for thought and the subject deserves additional study. Using gloves when transferring wet clothes to the dryer eliminates the greatest risk.

MICHAEL MCCOY, C&EN NORTHEAST NEWS BUREAU

When Unilever launched Wisk with Wrinkle Reducer laundry detergent in 2000, it seemed as if the big household products company had found the Holy Grail: an ingredient that allows consumers to reduce or eliminate the need for ironing.

	HERE TO STAY? Wrinkle removal is still an R&D pipe dream. CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS PHOTO

However, subsequent negative reviews by Consumer Reports magazine and various newspapers indicate that the Holy Grail has yet to be found. And, according to R&D executives at other leading consumer products makers, it isn’t likely to be discovered anytime soon.

J. Keith Grime, vice president of R&D for Procter & Gamble’s global fabric and home care organization, contends that, as yet, no effective detergent-based technology has been developed that can provide consumer-noticeable wrinkle reduction, at least in the dilute conditions typical of North American clothes washing.

Adding to the problem, Grime notes, is that consumers want to avoid the ironing process altogether, so antiwrinkling tends to be an all-or-nothing benefit. “As a result, attempts to introduce ‘reduced wrinkles’ or ‘ease of ironing’ as a benefit have tended to fall flat,” he says.

P&G has had some success with auxiliary products like its spray-on Downy Wrinkle Releaser. In detergents, Grime sees a more immediate challenge in adapting formulas to work with the new generation of fibers and textiles that wrinkle less.

Things are a little different in Western Europe, where ironing and line drying are more prevalent and detergent wash concentrations are significantly higher. There, in 2001, P&G launched Bold and Dash detergents that promise ease of ironing, as opposed to outright wrinkle reduction. Grime says the system used to deliver these effects is based primarily on clay and hydrophobically modified carboxymethylcellulose.

Indeed, wrinkle-related ingredients offered by specialty chemicals companies tend to tout ease of ironing. Ciba Specialty Chemicals, for example, markets a fabric-softener additive under the Tinotex name that is intended to make ironing easier.

Degussa’s Goldschmidt unit has introduced a series of silicone quaternaries for fabric softeners called Varisoft SQ. Terry A. Laine, Goldschmidt’s textile care business director in North America, says the new products can impart ease-of-ironing and wrinkle-reducing properties to fabrics.

And Kevin Beairsto, director of detergent marketing and technology development at Alco Chemical, says his firm has made inroads with its Alcoguard 1000 series of specialty polymers. Beairsto calls the polymers “synthetic starches” that can be incorporated into spray-starch-type products to make ironing easier and keep wrinkles from forming during wear.

Meanwhile, the search for the Holy Grail continues. Thomas Müller-Kirschbaum, head of product development and technology for Henkel’s laundry and home care business, says Henkel researchers have been looking for an effective wrinkle-reduction system for 10 years without success.

Müller-Kirschbaum acknowledges that other companies have launched products claiming wrinkle reduction. “Sometimes consumers see things if you only promise them,” he says. “Unfortunately, you won’t find it in the lab.” In the end, he adds, the poor market share for wrinkle-removing products bears out the laboratory findings.

Henkel is careful about promising effects that it can’t deliver, Müller-Kirschbaum says, particularly for its flagship Persil laundry detergent brand. And he is concerned about the long-term impact of making claims that aren’t readily perceivable by the buying public.

“This comes back as consumer frustration and could damage a future category,” he says. “If there is a breakthrough innovation in one or two years, you have to start again and say, ‘Now, it’s real.’ Consumers will answer, ‘I only believe this lie once.’”