Today’s article is on bidets and the septic system—whether they’re good for septic systems, their effects, etc.
Most toilet paper today is made with sewer systems in mind: two-ply, three-ply, antimicrobial additives, etc. Because of this, many people are curious if washing with water instead of paper provides any advantages for a septic system and whether the overall impact is positive.
In previous articles, we’ve explored the plumbing needs for a bidet, concentrating mainly (though not entirely) on standalone bidets. This article applies to all types of bidets, including handheld sprayers, electric and non-electric seats, attachments, and toilet-bidet combinations.
Are Bidets Good for Septic Tanks
Bidets are beneficial for septic tanks. By replacing toilet paper, they reduce the likelihood of clogging toilets. Some bidet models provide more advantages for septic systems than others, particularly those that use less water and eliminate the need for toilet paper entirely.
Electric bidets are the most effective because they have dryers that completely remove the need for toilet paper. Most bidet seats and attachments use smaller, often aerated, water streams, which reduces water consumption and benefits septic systems. Handheld sprayers and standalone bidets are not as effective in this regard.
Here, we will review the benefits of bidets for septic systems. It’s important to remember that the best way to maintain your septic system, whether or not you have a bidet, is to follow the guidelines provided by leading health and environmental organizations.
The EPA outlines these guidelines:
- Only flush human waste and toilet paper—avoid flushing kitty litter, baby wipes, etc. They didn’t specify, but items labeled “septic safe” other than toilet paper should also be avoided.
- Minimize excess water usage.
- Have your septic tank inspected regularly, ideally once a year.
Top Benefits of Bidets for Septic Systems
Most Toilet Paper is Bad for Septic Systems
Sometimes issues arise due to people using toilet paper incorrectly, rather than the type of TP being inherently bad. However, much of the toilet paper available today is less than ideal for septic systems, even when used properly.
Generally, toilet paper is intended to be safe for septic systems. It’s made from biodegradable materials, typically wood pulp and occasionally light cotton, which allows it to dissolve more easily than other kinds of paper.
In fact, toilet paper is one of only two things the EPA considers safe to flush, whether you use a septic tank or sewer system—the other being human waste.
However, the safety of toilet paper for septic systems assumes that you’re using the right kind and in the appropriate amounts. Unfortunately, these conditions are rarely met.
Though all toilet paper is biodegradable, thicker paper is more difficult for the anaerobic bacteria in septic tanks to break down.
Because of this, many experts suggest using only single-ply paper. But who does that? Single-ply TP is typically found in cheap gas stations, like the ones with restrooms outside where you need a key to get in. It’s the kind of paper that tears easily and feels rough, like sandpaper. You know what I mean.
Two- and three-ply paper is softer, more effective for cleaning, and more common in stores. While not perfect, two-ply can be acceptable if it’s specifically designed to be septic tank-friendly—some toilet paper has spray-on additives that make it more biodegradable.
While certain types of toilet paper are better for septic systems than others, none are as beneficial as eliminating paper use entirely. By cleaning with water, you can spare your septic system from processing more paper than it was designed to handle.
Say Goodbye to Clogged Inlet Pipes and Baffles
Let’s be honest, most people don’t use the recommended amount of toilet paper. If you were to read the instructions on a typical roll package, you’d be shocked to see that they often suggest flushing after every 2-3 squares. Again, who actually does that?
Excessive toilet paper use is one of the main reasons for clogged inlet pipes running from the home to the septic tank. When the inlet baffle of the tank gets clogged, finding toilet paper in it is as common as finding plaque in a blocked artery.
There are other causes of blocked pipes, such as root growth and physical damage (e.g., from animals or vehicles), but excessive toilet paper use tops the list.
For those who need to use a lot of toilet paper, there are two choices: flush multiple times or clog the toilet. Neither option is good for your septic system.
Most experts advise against excessive water use, citing it as a significant cause of septic tank failure. This warning mainly applies to showers and appliances that consume large amounts of water throughout the day.
In the U.S., each toilet flush uses at least 1.6 gallons of water, and older homes may still have toilets that use 3.5 gallons per flush. People with gastrointestinal issues or weak plumbing may need to flush several times per bowel movement just to get all the toilet paper down. This means water usage can quickly add up depending on the circumstances.
While flushing large amounts of water may not directly cause issues, it certainly doesn’t help and can worsen any existing septic system problems.
A well-functioning septic system depends on clear pipes and passageways. When blocked, the toilet bowl drains very slowly or stops draining completely. If you know how, you can use a plumbing snake to unclog the pipes, but many people end up needing to hire a professional.
If you don’t use much toilet paper, this advice might not apply to you. I did have an eco-conscious friend who prided himself on using only a single square of toilet paper per bowel movement. I have a hard time believing he could get a proper clean with just one square.
If he did, more power to him—he’s an exception. Most of us aren’t so fortunate and need to wipe several times to feel clean. If that’s the case for you, you might benefit from switching to a bidet.
A Better Wetter Alternative to Wet Wipes
An image from a few years ago (prior to switching to a bidet) shows how prolonged use of wet wipes eventually resulted in a burst of wipes surfacing in my front yard.
Many consumers switch from toilet paper to wet wipes for a more thorough clean. I used them myself for a long time, and they are indeed effective. While wet wipes offer an improvement in personal hygiene, they are terrible for sewer systems and even worse for septic tanks.
Although wipes are now marketed as more septic-friendly, public health authorities still advise against flushing them, particularly for those with septic tanks.
Of course, you could follow the recommended practice of disposing of them in the trash bin. But, again… who really does that? Wet wipes almost always end up flushed down the toilet.
Septic systems depend on anaerobic bacteria (those that do not need oxygen) to break down waste. The tanks are airtight and buried deep in the ground. They are sealed not only to trap odors but also to keep oxygen out, which is crucial for the bacteria.
Before the wastewater is returned to the environment, it spends about 24 hours in the tank, during which time microbes work on breaking down human waste, trash (if a garbage disposal is in use), and toilet paper.
Wet wipes present two significant challenges for septic tanks:
Harsh chemicals. Many wipes are soaked in various chemicals. These are generally safe for human skin, including preservatives and fragrance agents. However, some wipes contain antimicrobial agents, which are the last thing you want in a septic system. Though wipes contribute only a small amount of antimicrobial chemicals (with harsh cleaning products being the main culprits), they still don’t help. That said, the effect is likely minimal and might be offset if your bidet uses an antimicrobial nozzle or bowl cleaning solution.
Synthetic fibers. The “paper” used in moist wipes can clog septic systems. Unlike toilet paper, which is made from biodegradable wood pulp and designed to dissolve easily in water, many wipes are still manufactured with synthetic fibers. These fibers cannot be broken down by anaerobic bacteria, as they lack the necessary enzymes. Some manufacturers have begun using plant-based fibers to make wipes more septic- and sewer-friendly, but many still use synthetics.
Thicker material. Even wipes made with biodegradable plant-based fibers are tough for microbes to process, no matter the chemical composition. Wet wipes need to be durable, and if you’ve ever tried wetting regular toilet paper, you know why. Wet toilet paper disintegrates into lint-like remnants. Wet wipes, on the other hand, use stronger materials that won’t break apart during use. While this durability is great for consumers, it’s terrible for plumbing systems.
Therefore, both the composition and the thickness of wipes make them difficult to process. Any material that’s strong during use will remain strong while passing through a septic system—so much so that it can take decades for wipes to fully degrade.
No More Toilet Drain Cleaners
Using toilet paper inevitably leads to clogs at some point, and sometimes a plunger just isn’t enough to fix the problem. You end up needing heavy-duty drain cleaners.
Some companies, like S. C. Johnson & Son, the makers of Drano, claim that their products are septic safe. I’m not sure if that’s true, but most septic system experts advise against using drain cleaners. If you’ve read the previous section, you’ll understand why.
The small amount of antimicrobial chemicals in wet wipes is nothing compared to the harsh chemicals that get dumped into your septic tank every time you use drain cleaner to address a clogged toilet.
What About Water Usage?
As we know by now, excessive water is a significant cause of septic system failure. The more water that enters the septic tank, the less time there is for the scum and sludge to separate.
Septic tanks require sufficient time to separate the water from the sediment and scum—sediment refers to the solids that sink to the bottom, and scum refers to the substances that float on the top.
Therefore, some might wonder whether the additional water used for bidet cleansing could negatively affect the septic tank.
To the extent that bidets result in extra water usage (which they may not), it is not enough to harm septic system performance. With advancements in technology, such as the use of aerated water streams, most bidets use minimal water overall. Since this often leads to less flushing, water consumption for the user may even decrease.
To put this in perspective, let’s look at the water consumption of common household appliances:
- Toilets use 1.2 to 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF). Modern toilets use around 1.2 GPF, while older models, installed decades ago but still in use, use 3.5 GPF.
- Bathroom sinks consume between 1 to 2 gallons per activity. This includes activities like washing, brushing teeth, and shaving, with usage depending on personal water conservation habits and faucet technology (e.g., aerators).
- Baths and showers use between 5 to 30 gallons per session. The amount varies based on the person and the technology, such as low-flush showerheads.
- Dishwashers use 10 to 20 gallons per load. Water usage depends on the dishwasher model and the selected settings.
- Kitchen sink water usage can vary greatly, reaching several gallons a day. Estimating this is harder due to manual dishwashing, garbage disposal usage, rinsing produce, hand washing, and cleaning.
- Clothes washers can use 10 to 50 gallons per day, with water consumption varying based on the model, settings, and number of rinse cycles.
In contrast, bidet toilet seats and attachments use only about 0.3 gallons per person per day. The average person has three bowel movements a day, and the average wash time is about a minute. Bidet seats and attachments use about 0.1 gallons per minute. So, that’s 0.3 gallons per person, which amounts to 1.2 gallons daily for a family of four.
And those numbers assume every bowel movement happens at home. Since most people spend half their waking hours at work during the week, the actual water use could be even lower.
Conclusion
It makes sense that bidets would be beneficial for septic systems. Until studies analyze the incidence of septic failure among bidet users, there is no way to measure the effect quantitatively.
Ultimately, it probably depends on the individual. Larger households that use significant amounts of toilet paper would likely see more benefits than a single-person household where minimal toilet paper is used.
If you don’t go through much toilet paper, rarely clog your toilet, and avoid moist wipes, you might not see much benefit from switching to a bidet.
Even if your septic tank isn’t impacted, bidets offer numerous benefits. They provide a superior clean, and you’ll save thousands of dollars on toilet paper over your lifetime. Even the pricier bidets pay for themselves several times over.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading.