How to Get Toilet Paper for Septic Systems

Septic system tanks are fairly easy to maintain as long as you keep scheduled maintenance on your tank and watch what you put into it. Public sewers take the waste away, but septic systems break down the waste right in your yard. The type of toilet paper and the amount of toilet paper you flush is very important in maintaining your septic system.

Instructions

1. Buy white toilet paper instead of colored toilet paper. There are dyes in colored toilet paper that bacteria has a difficult time breaking down, so it is best to choose white, undyed toilet paper.

2. Consider buying toilet paper that is marketed to dissolve quickly. All toilet paper is designed to work in septic systems, but some dissolve more quickly than others.

3. Use moderate amounts of white toilet paper and flush sparingly. Large amounts of water and toilet paper, even white toilet paper, can cause a septic system to back up, so only flush when necessary and use as little toilet paper as you can.

4. Wrap feminine products and dispose in a trash can instead of flushing them. These products do not dissolve quickly and can cause septic problems.

5. Flush only toilet paper, not facial tissues, paper towels or wet wipes. The packaging may say that they are septic system safe, but they do not always break down quickly enough, especially if there are several people using the system.

Tips & Warnings

• Toilet paper is the only thing that should be flushed into a septic system.

• Do not flush paint, antifreeze or other chemicals down the toilet. These chemicals can kill the bacteria that are treating the waste materials in your septic system, causing serious septic problems and possibly causing ground water contamination.