Septic Care: Explaining the Effects of Detergents

Explaining to customers why their ATU looks like the photo at right takes patience. Here’s some background info to help you out.Dishwashing detergents come in many forms: cartridges, gel, liquids, pacs, powders and tablets. These products may contain bleach, enzymes and rinsing aids. Some dishwashing detergents still contain phosphorus. Phosphorus is removed from wastewater by being chemically bound to minerals and held on exchange sites on soil particles and it is chemically bonded to iron, calcium and aluminum in a process called adsorption.If the soil treatment system is functioning correctly, and proper setbacks are maintained from surface waters and vertical