Coffee grounds in septic system
 

I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics. Oils/lipids are likely to be more dificult than most organics to break down completely (to digest), and they are established as introducing unique problems, especially related to clump/clog situations. These are best avoided by keeping them, as much as is sensible, out of a septic system. Wiping dinner plates soiled by salad dressing (to remove oil-bearing dressing) is absurd. Dumping used oils from your car is deadly.

Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Poisonous, or otherwise ant-microbial substances are an entirely different concern. Coffee/coffee grounds are not usually considered, "poisonous"! They do offer a chemical intrusion in that grounds are normally acidic. But the amount of acidity in the grounds from any household coffee pot is minuscule when compared to the receiving contents of a septic tank!

So, please feel free to challenge my comment - I TRULY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

"Coffee grounds from a usual home pot are NOT significant
positive/negative inputs for a septic system."

No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity..

Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 12:05:51 PM UTC-4, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics. Oils/lipids are likely to be more dificult than most organics to break down completely (to digest), and they are established as introducing unique problems, especially related to clump/clog situations. These are best avoided by keeping them, as much as is sensible, out of a septic system. Wiping dinner plates soiled by salad dressing (to remove oil-bearing dressing) is absurd. Dumping used oils from your car is deadly.

Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ?

I would think that some vegetable/food matter will break up quite easily
from bacteria compared to coffee grinds, which are tough fibrous stuff.
And overall, less is better.



All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

If grinds wind up on the bottom, do they even really get thoroughly
pumped out? Also, how frequently it needs to be pumped likely depends
on what you put in there.



Poisonous, or otherwise ant-microbial substances are an entirely different concern. Coffee/coffee grounds are not usually considered, "poisonous"! They do offer a chemical intrusion in that grounds are normally acidic. But the amount of acidity in the grounds from any household coffee pot is minuscule when compared to the receiving contents of a septic tank!

So, please feel free to challenge my comment - I TRULY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.


I would not put them down any waste line. I'd think they settle out
in the pipes and just contribute to clogging them up. I'm on a sewer
system and I don't put them down the drain. Maybe 5% wind up going
down, ie the ones left in the carafe when I rinse it out.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

In article ,
says...

I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics. Oils/lipids are likely to be more dificult than most organics to break down completely (to digest), and
they are established as introducing unique problems, especially related to clump/clog situations. These are best avoided by keeping them, as much as is sensible, out of a septic system. Wiping dinner plates soiled by salad dressing (to remove oil-bearing dressing) is absurd. Dumping used oils from your car is deadly.

Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Poisonous, or otherwise ant-microbial substances are an entirely different concern. Coffee/coffee grounds are not usually considered, "poisonous"! They do offer a chemical intrusion in that grounds are normally acidic. But the amount of acidity in the grounds from any household coffee pot is minuscule when compared to the receiving contents of a septic tank!

So, please feel free to challenge my comment - I TRULY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

"Coffee grounds from a usual home pot are NOT significant
positive/negative inputs for a septic system."

No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a
trade-off vs some other critical activity.

Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


The best advise I heard is not to put anything it the tank that you
would not put in yourself.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On 5/30/2017 12:05 PM, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics.


Then eat the grounds and put them there with fecal matter. Problem solved.




Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Depends on the amount. The potential problems are with the plumbing
more than the septic system as the can cause clogs in traps, disposals,
etc. Happens a lot.



No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

If you can dump them into the sink you can dump them into the trash can.
That is what we've been doing for 50 years now. Sure, composting is
good but that is secondary.



Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On 5/30/2017 11:56 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 5/30/2017 12:05 PM, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics.


Then eat the grounds and put them there with fecal matter. Problem solved.




Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Depends on the amount. The potential problems are with the plumbing
more than the septic system as the can cause clogs in traps, disposals,
etc. Happens a lot.



No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

If you can dump them into the sink you can dump them into the trash can.
That is what we've been doing for 50 years now. Sure, composting is
good but that is secondary.



Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.


+1

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 09:05:42 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics. Oils/lipids are likely to be more dificult than most organics to break down completely (to digest), and they are established as introducing unique problems, especially related to clump/clog situations. These are best avoided by keeping them, as much as is sensible, out of a septic system. Wiping dinner plates soiled by salad dressing (to remove oil-bearing dressing) is absurd. Dumping used oils from your car is deadly.

Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Poisonous, or otherwise ant-microbial substances are an entirely different concern. Coffee/coffee grounds are not usually considered, "poisonous"! They do offer a chemical intrusion in that grounds are normally acidic. But the amount of acidity in the grounds from any household coffee pot is minuscule when compared to the receiving contents of a septic tank!

So, please feel free to challenge my comment - I TRULY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

"Coffee grounds from a usual home pot are NOT significant
positive/negative inputs for a septic system."

No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.

Do you really have a Ph.D. in environmental science? Isn't environmental science the study of the effects of
natural and unnatural processes, and of interactions of the physical components of the planet on the
environment? If so, why didn't you learn the answer to your problem in your studies? Or do you suck as a
prof?

My guess would be you suck.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 14:56:48 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 5/30/2017 12:05 PM, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics.


Then eat the grounds and put them there with fecal matter. Problem solved.




Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Depends on the amount. The potential problems are with the plumbing
more than the septic system as the can cause clogs in traps, disposals,
etc. Happens a lot.



No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

If you can dump them into the sink you can dump them into the trash can.
That is what we've been doing for 50 years now. Sure, composting is
good but that is secondary.



Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.

Crap, you said it first, but I was less polite than you.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 14:56:48 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 5/30/2017 12:05 PM, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics.


Then eat the grounds and put them there with fecal matter. Problem solved.




Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Depends on the amount. The potential problems are with the plumbing
more than the septic system as the can cause clogs in traps, disposals,
etc. Happens a lot.



No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

If you can dump them into the sink you can dump them into the trash can.
That is what we've been doing for 50 years now. Sure, composting is
good but that is secondary.



Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.

Over many years I have discovered that when put in the drain, coffee
grounds are attracted to any grease in the pipes and have a tendency
to build up and create clogs.

Best place for coffee grounds is the compost pile, second best place
is the garbage, IMHO.

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On 5/30/2017 3:25 PM, Gordon Shumway wrote:
On Tue, 30 May 2017 14:56:48 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 5/30/2017 12:05 PM, wrote:
I have sought legitimate info. regarding the effect of coffee grounds on the function of septic systems for some time.To date, NO SPECIFIC problem directly related to COFFEE GROUNDS has surfaced.

Since all materials which you can visually identify are, by default, "solids", the endless statements that "solids'" enter your septic system and increase the need to pump it out are meaningless! Fecal material DEFINITELY leaves some solids behind after the bacteria have broken down vulnerable organics.


Then eat the grounds and put them there with fecal matter. Problem solved.




Otherwise - all visible materials add small amounts of solids. So what ? All septic systems must be pumped every few years (depends on household specifics). When it comes to solids, the RELATIVE contribution of any material is what matters - for solids.

Depends on the amount. The potential problems are with the plumbing
more than the septic system as the can cause clogs in traps, disposals,
etc. Happens a lot.



No generalizatios!! We are considering coffee grounds. No philosophy - "it cannot hurt to be extremely protective" - of course it can! All actions have a +/- trade-off. Consider that in specific circumstances (handy-cap, wheel chair, , limited access, - not YOURS), "simply" scraping grounds into a garbage compactor, or dumping them into garden or compost areas, is quite complicated and requires a trade-off vs some other critical activity.

If you can dump them into the sink you can dump them into the trash can.
That is what we've been doing for 50 years now. Sure, composting is
good but that is secondary.



Do coffee grounds introduce unique chemical/poison problems into a septic system? Seems unlikely.

KI.Keating, Ph.D. (Emeritus) Prof. Env. Sci.


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.

Crap, you said it first, but I was less polite than you.


He'll probably call us both a-holes anyway. Success!

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 15:38:12 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:


Nope, no problems but you may want to check with and environmental
scientist. Those college guys know know everything.

Crap, you said it first, but I was less polite than you.


He'll probably call us both a-holes anyway. Success!

LOL!

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 09:05:42 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

So, please feel free to challenge my comment - I TRULY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

"Coffee grounds from a usual home pot are NOT significant
positive/negative inputs for a septic system."

The mouse told the elephant: "If it don't fit, don't force it."

Coffee grounds in septic system
 

On Tue, 30 May 2017 14:24:52 -0400, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

The best advise I heard is not to put anything it the tank that you
would not put in yourself.

That is really
Do not put anything in a septic tank until after you eat it