Septic system repairs are not cheap and can cost from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on where you live and the condition of your system. However, if taken care of properly, they can last for longer than you own your home. One of the ways to take care of your system is using septic system safe toilet paper. 

To be on the safe side, it is best to use the cheaper, white, 80 grit, septic safe toilet paper- because it will break down easier. The more people in your household, the more important this is. There is no proof of this, but the dyes in colored toilet paper MAY cause problems. 

In general, you want to be very careful about what you flush down the toilet, not just toilet paper. Just because a product says “safe for septic systems” on the package, doesn’t mean it is. The problem is, over 25% of homes in the United States are on septic systems. If a company admits their product is not safe for septic systems, not only will they lose 25% or more of their sales, they also open themselves up for lawsuits. Here is a letter from one lady which shows how this can happen:

“I started having problems with our septic system.  I took you advice and had the tank pumped and inspected.  What the contractor found was hundreds of wet-wipes (I have been using because it says safe for septic systems on the box) were plugging the baffles.  He sucked them out when he pumped the tank and I had him jet the lines as well.     

These wet-wipes were made by XXX and when I called them to tell them about this problem the person I talked said they had got a lot of complaints about this.  But when I asked if they were going to change their advertising they said no.  I don’t understand why they won’t warn people about this and feel it is very irresponsible.”  Marsha K.