BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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Joined: 02/23/2002
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cm11599ps wrote:I thought that the chemicals you put in broke down the poop into a liquid. Half of fecal matter is enzymes and bacteria which continue to break down the fecal matter after it leaves your body.
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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According to the Arizona Cooperative Extention, "These RV products may contain enzymes or very toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Most products either mask the odor or kill the bacteria causing the odors. When such treated RV wastewater is dumped into a septic system (or municipal wastewater treatment facility), it can kill the bacteria in the system and ultimately cause the treatment system to fail. Without bacteria, the treatment system cannot adequately treat the waste."
source: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1233.pdf
I have found the many County Cooperatives Extensions in this country to be a provider of accurated and true information.
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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wny_pat wrote:When such treated RV wastewater is dumped into a septic system (or municipal wastewater treatment facility), it can kill the bacteria in the system and ultimately cause the treatment system to fail." It's more complicated than that. It is easier for government bodies to make their message simple and enforceable. The bacteria in septic systems can consume tank treatment chemicals. When the concentration of the chemical or fecal matter (or combination of both) is greater than the system can handle, the system will fail. When more RVs dump than what the system is able to handle, the system will fail.
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Bit Bucket
Brookings, Oregon
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Joined: 04/29/2011
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wa8yxm wrote:
Myth or not there are places that will not let you hook up if you use those chemicals. I care not for the argument as to why and if their concerns are valid.. I only point out that they exist.
Most are in California or very very close to it.
It's not a myth. The cited reference merely states that formaldehyde will break down in a few days. The document referred to also states:
"7.1 Microorganisms
Formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites and has found wide use as a fumigant (section 3.2.2)."
Yes, the formaldehyde will break down, but before it does it will kill as many bacteria as possible. If a whole bunch of RV black tanks heavily using formaldehyde treatments are dumped into a septic system then at the very least, the septic systems natural process will be temporarily disturbed.
For a simple summation of the subject, see RV Holding-tank Treatments & Deodorizers in Septic Systems. It is published by The University of Arizona - College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Note the credentials of the indiuviduals at the bottom. It explains how septic system work, explains the difference between a septic system and holding tanks.
When one refers to whether or not the contects of the black tank "breaks down" it means did it convert back to something other than sewage which is what happens in a sewer treatment plant or septic system. Just because the contents of the tank "liquefy" does not mean it breaks down. The contents will liquefy if given enough liquid.
Not advocating for or against chemicals (except toxic things like formaldehyde), to each their own.
Many, many RV'ers handle their black tanks successfully in many different ways.
Edit: Sorry, wny_pat, I actually started my post before I saw your response!
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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It's a plain fact that "slug loading" of a wide variety of substances including formaldehyde can/will crash (at least temporarily) a biological treatment system, most of which rely on very specific microorganisms to function properly.
Recovery of aerobic systems can take days/weeks, and anaerobic systems longer than that.
Even a substance as seemingly innocuous as the effluent from BEERmaking can wreak havoc in (aerobic) treatment systems- not due to its "chemical" content, but because of the extremely high BOD of the waste. That's why most breweries are required to have elaborate pretreatment systems before they're allowed to discharge to municipal treatment plants.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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How many RVers were pouring 11 oz of pure formaldehdye into their 30 gal black tanks (see section 3.2.2 for concentrations of formaldehyde for disinfection)?
* This post was
edited 05/14/12 11:11am by BCSnob *
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Bit Bucket
Brookings, Oregon
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BCSnob wrote:How many RVers were pouring 11 oz of pure formaldehdye into their 30 gal black tanks (see section 3.2.2 for concentrations of formaldehyde for disinfection)?
I would guess zero.
Why?
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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It takes 11oz of pure formaldehyde in order for a full 30 gal tank to have enough formaldehdye to be disinfecting.
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Wes Tausend
Bismarck, ND
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Joined: 12/04/2008
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BCSnob wrote:It takes 11oz of pure formaldehyde in order for a full 30 gal tank to have enough formaldehdye to be disinfecting.
So would you say a lesser concentration than 11 oz/30 gallons of formaldehdye would merely slow the desired campground septic tank process down? Or have no effect whatsoever? I agree that the environment overall will unlikely be permanently harmed by the drainfield, as formaldehdye does break down.
Internet myth? I confess I didn't really get my info from the internet, but observation. In junior high school we had a jar with a tapeworm preserved in formaldehdye. My mother thought it was the same one she had seen some 30 years earlier. 
Wes
...
Days spent camping are not subtracted from one's total.
- 2000 Excursion V-10 - 2004 Cougar Keystone M-294 RLS, 6140# tare
- Hensley Arrow - Champion 4000w/3500w gen
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle
...
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RVUSA
Orlando, FL, USA
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Joined: 01/04/2005
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That stuff breaking down yet? It's starting to smell like a kentucky pig farm in here.
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