RobertTT wrote:

Also, would I be right in thinking that detergents can have a negative
effect on a septic tank?

So, water from gutters, washing machine, bath/shower/sink should *not*
be run into it.

NO. You overload it.

Those go to a catch pond, or soakaway, or into storm drainage if you
have it.

We have a pond.

The estate down teh road duig a bloody great pit. Its a grassy hollow
execpt when it really rains.


Instead gutters should run into a ditch; the washing machine,
bath/shower/sink should run into a soakpit.

No, run your 'foul' (grey) water into the sewage tank. Only rainwater
should go to the soakaway,

Use a water softener to keep soap/detergent quantities low, and let it
rock...most detergents these days are realtively biodegradeable.

Things to avoid are indigestible plastics and some petrochemicals that
will not emulsify with the detergents.

I've put caustic soda. hydrochloric acid, and paint thinners down mine.
Seems OK so far. In the end it all cancels out - the acids and alkalis
do and the solvents and the deteregents do. Just make sure there's lots
of water going through when you bung in anything too nasty.