Cess pits and cleaning product

[tommy the cat]

Been doing some work at the scout camp and want some cleaning product recommendations that are compatable with cess pits as they are not connected to the sewers.
I have no experince with them but know certain products are a no no.
Basically sink and toilet cleaning as well as something to squirt in the boys urinals that will help with the smell.
I would like to get the stuff locally if poss.
Your smashing you lot are,
Dave

 

[EdS]

Are they cess pits or septic tanks?

Anything really for cess pits as all they are are holding tanks, that are emptied on a regular basis.

Septic tanks are a completely different kettle of fish. However, any of the "biodegradable/environmentally friendly ones are ok - Ecover or supermarket home version of Ecover a fine.

Vinegar is also a very good and cheap just don't use it by the bucket load at a time

 

[tommy the cat]

Oh sorry about that I think its a septic tank. Vinegar I know about but it stinks....aint gonna make the urinals smell better.
Was thinking something that smells nice that can be squirted in??
Do ecover do anything other than washing up liquid?
Ta Dave

 

[Rob]

Loads of Ecover products - have a wander in the supermarket and see what they have.

Dont know about the urinals though.

 

[British Red]

Short answer is nothing that "kills germs". Septic tanks operate on a variety of bacteria breaking down the waste products (older one anerobically, newer are aerated). Anything that kills bacteria is a complete no no as it stops this process. Similarly all detergents should be biodegradeable

Bleach blocks etc. will really stuff up your tank

Red

 

[Ogri the trog]

TTC / Dave,
is this a recent problem or does it manifest itself at certain times of the year? The organisms that digest the waste are considerably more active in the warmer months and hence don't do at all well in the winter. It could just be that it needs a little more time to get itself going after the recent cold weather.
One other thing is, do you know exactly what has been put in there - by which I mean if other groups / site users have put cooking waste or washing up water in there - that will also have an impact on the performance of the system.

One piece of advice I was given if I ever have to "restart" my septic tank, was to flush eveything out and then as it fills naturally, introduce a dead animal about cat/dog size as the gut microfauna and bacteria contained therein would be sufficient to kick the thing into life - frankly though - I'm not convinced!

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[EdS]

Short answer is nothing that "kills germs". Septic tanks operate on a variety of bacteria breaking down the waste products (older one anerobically, newer are aerated). Anything that kills bacteria is a complete no no as it stops this process. Similarly all detergents should be biodegradeable

Bleach blocks etc. will really stuff up your tank

Red

Almost but not quite - septic tanks seperate the solids and floating matter (hence multiple sections) with some anoxic (rather than anaerobic as nitrates are used as an lternative electron receptor to O) treatment of the liquid fraction to mainly reduce nitrates. The liquid fraction is them passed forward into the soakawy (soil) for aerobic treatment.
Some septic tanks may have an addition aerobic phase prior to soakaway ie trough of stone media like a "normal" sewage works.

The new aerobic ones are not septic tanks - (still need the same handling though). They are package treatment plants ie SAF, BAF, Biodisc. The generally have a short anoxic zone to reduce nitrates and to prevent the growth of filamentous bacteria that make it hard to settle the sludge (basically they trap gases in the floc) then aerobic treatment.

I could go on but that is the basics - clear as sludge.


andthe dead cat idea does not work - normal emptying of the system leaves enough micobes (not just bacteria) on the walls, floor and remaining stuff to re-seed the system. If it is empties adn fully cleaned out it will need re-seeding with material from another simialr system.

This could be my Mastermind specialist area!

 

[Alexlebrit]

Over here in France we can buy Eparcyl blocks which are said to help speed the breakdown process along, you just drop on down a loo once a week or so. Don't know if they're available there though, but maybe something similar is.

Otherwise as people have said nothing that kills germs dead, as you want those in your septic tank.

And don't discount vinegar. If you get spirit vinegar which should be in the cleaning product area, not the food area, it's very good with pongs, doesn't smell quite so much like a fish & chip shop (nowt wrong with that) and the smell will clear quickly. Just a squirt of it round the place in an old Fabreze bottle will help a lot (It's also great if your car smells of wet dog and old fags, just leave a jar in the car on a warm day, then the next day take it out and drive round with the windows open for half an hour, your car will be smell free).

 

[tommy the cat]

Ta for the suggestions, will have look at the Ecover range.
Ta dave

 

[nitrambur]

google search turns up these

http://www.travena.co.uk/bioblocks.htm

 

[tommy the cat]

Why is bio stuff still so expensive?
Thanks for the link but if I tell the committe I am spending £20+ on 50 blocks I would get linched. Vinegar and smelly spray it is!
Dave
Ps the smells arn't from the pit as people suggested just toilet smells