Just bought a new home with an aerobic system. The company that installed the system says to use "chlorine tablets" every 60 days. Since this system sprays treated water all over my yard....NO WAY!

Does anyone know of an organic alternative?

boodoo,
The chlorine tablets are to stop the bad smell. The development I live in have this system also. When I built my house I elected to not go with aerobic septic. I am very glad I did not. The neighbors don't maintain there systems and when the sprinklers are on, it smells like raw sewage coming out. Also, they have to be inspected once a year by a licensed inspector. Most people, that have them, have the installation company do the maintenance, but the home owner is responsible for the upkeep and making sure the chlorine tablets are installed. If the smell gets to bad. the health department is contacted. I do not know of any organic tablets to substitute for the chlorine. Maybe another poster will know of an organic tablet. What ever you use, please make sure you put the tablets in the tank when needed. If not, you will smell the 'raw sewage' scent.

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Greg...
Converting one person at a time to Organics, the only way to go!! [ ME ]

Would a product like Medina's Actina help? I know it helps regular septic systems as it did wonders for my mom & dad's but don't know whether it would encourage enough beneficial activity for this type of system. I talked them out of getting one installed because I didn't want chlorine sprayed all over their yard, where I spend a goodly amount of time! What do you think, form readers? Anyone else have a suggestion?

Yeah that sewage smell is a bit rough. I need to do something pretty quick.

Thanks for the responses KK and Gar. Looks like I need to keep searching.

All, I'm also looking for the right thing to do. The man who maintains my system, say's he puts sugar in his to help breakdown the waist. I have been putting mollassas in mine. I don"t put the chlorine in my system and I have no trouble with smell. I don"t know if the mollassas has anything to do with that. The one thing that has a lot to do with smell is having a real good air pump, I Know this because mine went out last week and the smell started that day. The Service man said they make a scroll compressor that puts out more air. boodo mabie you should check your air pump to see if it is working. I just registered today so I am new to this, but what dose Howard say about this problem?

Yes, the molasses/sugar has somthing to do with that. You are both putting sugar into your systems, just in differently processed forms. The carbon you provide to those microbes keeps them active and feeding, speeding the breakdown of the waste material and therefore also the smell and toxins. Actina has molasses in it (you can smell it) and also positive microbes. It also occurred to me that a product like Agrispon or Earthworm would be good, especially Earthworm, because it has so many of the beneficial bacteria & fungus spores that perform the service of biodegrading your waste. Both are inexpensive enough to give them a try.

Aerobic chlorine tablets do not prevent aerobic systems from smelling. All the chlorine does is kill the bacteria in your pump tank before it is sprayed out to your yard. If you are concerned about having the chlorine on your lawn you can have the system converted over to a drip system. A drip system does not require chlorine because the water is dispersed underground through drip irrigation lines. The downside of this is it is pretty expensive around 2000-2500 dollars plus permits and engineered drawing. Aerobic systems must have bacteria alive in the aeration tank, the bacteria breaks down the waste products to prevent the raw sewage odor. The bacteria has to have oxygen to be kept alive this is done by air being pumped in by a blower which is probably located up next to your home. A properly working aerobic system puts off a musky odor there is no mistaking it for the raw sewage smell of a system that is not working properly. A foul smelling system is usually caused from not enough air getting into the system to sustain the bacteria. This can be either your blower is not working or a broken or leaking airline. A certified maintenance provider should inspect your system three times per year. Give him a call and have him check your blower. If you are not sure who is responsible for your maintenance inspections call the public works office in your county and they will be able to give you that information. The only two other possibilities for the smell is bleach from cleaning agents killing the bacteria and overusing the garbage disposal. Garbage disposals should be used as little as possible in households that have an aerobic septic. Food scraps overload the system with organic matter and if the bacteria cannot keep up the system will smell. Hope this helps.

tejas,
Thanks for the info. Now lets hope that everyone who has an aerobic system will read this and properly maintain their systems. Think I may print this and distribute it to everyone in my neighbor hood as their system smells like raw sewage. Got a couple of neighbors that are real bad. Spoke to them and was told they would have it checked, but suspect it never was. Maybe a call to the county health dept may do some good.

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Greg...
Converting one person at a time to Organics, the only way to go!! [ ME ]

I’m not sure exactly how all counties handle the problem but in Ellis County homeowners that are experiencing odor problems from neighbors septic systems can call the Public Works office and file a complaint. The county will then send out their inspector to investigate. When a problem is found a warning is issued to the homeowner and if appropriate repairs are not made they can be subjected to a fine.

There are many products that contain enzymes that will help with odors such as this. One is made by Bio Clean. I think you can find it at Whole Foods. Bac*Out may be the name of the product to use. You could do a search on Google: enzymes + organic. Read the contents well, just to be sure.

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Nadine Bielling
Moderator
Gardener Exchange Forum

The Laws of Ecology:
"All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nature bats last." --Ernest Callenbach

I have an aerobic system too. The bad smell you are experiencing is due to a malfuntion with the aerator pump and NOT the lack of chlorine in the system. I run my system completely without chlorine and always have and I have no problem with smells or pathogens in my grey water. If the system is maintained properly little or no chlorine is needed. I would have your neighbors to check their aerator pump.

Good Luck,
Ty

What of anaerobic systems?
This type uses chlorine tablets, and sprays the waste water when it gets to a certain height in the tank.
Anaerobic means without areation.. It seems not to have a fan of any type. In our area it is either anaerobic or the old leach-field type.
The anaerobic does develop the stench when chlorine is not put in often enough. It also requires that it not spray with a 100 feet or so of gardens or orchards that are intended for human consumption -- which probably tells us something about how "sanitary" it is, even with chlorine tablets.

Does anyone know whether there are other types of supplements for this type of sanitary system which will improve on the situation? Thanks!

We have an Aerobic System which is about 5 years old. The "law" requires chlorine to be added and make the gray water show 1.04 pts. per million of chlorine, which is the same chlorine amount required in drinking water. Because chlorine tables are so expensive, and hard to store, our installer became acquainted with an inventor who manufactures a devise that uses regular chlorine bleach, ie "Clorox", and passes state law.

Peroxide may foam, and will not show the level required by law, and it could damage the system

You may contact my system provider to get more information on this great devise. Contact : Mikeska Septic Tank Service, Phone: 254-582-3538.

Sheila

The aerobic system was set up to spray and they pointed them at the trees. It only took 5 years for the chlorine to kill my four 80 foot trees in their path. I can only say I am very angry as I was not told that would happen.

I'm not sure about the legality of using hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine, but it shouldn't damage the system in any way.