Effects of Septic Tank Additives on Scum Accumulation in Septic Tanks (Type B Study)

摘要

The California Department of Transportation Safety Roadside Rest Areas (SRRA) use septic tank-leach field wastewater treatment and disposal systems. Rapid scum buildup in some septic tanks has on occasion caused sewage to back up into restrooms, leach field failures, and required frequent pumping. A three month study of the effectiveness of three most commonly used bacterial and enzymatic additives was initiated in 1985 to determine the optimum dose of these additives to be used for maximum scum reduction rates in septic tanks at Westley SRRA. The study data showed that the scum reduction rates in the treated tanks were greater than in the untreated (control) tanks by a very small amount. It is estimated that the overloading of the tanks, the high concentration of body wastes and the large quantities of toilet paper create this rapid scum production problem that is not significantly decreased by the use of any of the three septic tank additives.