Healthy, sweet, and versatile – milk is a staple in many kitchens. Walk into most homes, and you’re likely to find a gallon or two of this animal goodness in the fridge. It’s that one essential kitchen ingredient we can’t help but love.
And while refrigeration does well to keep milk fresh, sometimes the slightest power outage is all it takes to have several gallons of milk spoil. The milk sours, and we’re often left with many questions among which, whether flushing it down the toilet can negatively affect the septic.
So, is sour milk good for septic systems? Well, that’s our big question today. Herein, we’ve all there’s to know about what happens when the white liquid love finds its way to your septic tank. Keep reading to find out more.
Is Spoiled Milk Good For Septic Tanks?
Yes, spoiled milk is good for septic tanks. Spoiled milk is high in bacteria, which creates a symbiotic relationship with the naturally-existing yeast in the septic to improve the septic’s efficiency in breaking down waste. Even so, we don’t recommend using spoiled milk for your septic tank because of the environmental impact.
Milk has remained a popular product since time immemorial. It’s not just a powerhouse of nutrients but also an excellent source of income for dairy farmers. Even so, not many people can explain why this animal product tends to go bad quickly.
And for the sake of those who can’t, milk goes bad because it’s bacteria-rich. Yes, you read that right! Milk contains a lot of bacteria! But that doesn’t mean it’s bad for your health. No, it isn’t. You see, the bacteria in milk comes in consumable levels that won’t cause you any issues.
Now, these bacteria convert lactose content in the milk into glucose, a process that produces lactic acid. The lactic acid then reacts with the milk proteins, leading to the formation of curds, which we see in milk that has gone bad. The milk souring process is, therefore, a result of bacteria in milk.
And so, technically, spoiled milk is good for septic tanks since the high levels of bacteria in it can help to improve the tank’s efficiency . After all, septic systems need bacteria to break down solid waste.
However, there’s a significant reason why most experts discourage the idea of pouring spoiled milk into your septic – the environmental impact of milk!
You see, like any other organic material, milk will break down with time. And unlike other organic materials, the decomposition of milk requires a massive amount of oxygen. More oxygen may mean the suffocation of organisms and aquatic animals within the vicinity, something that’s not good for the environment.
So, as much as milk will ramp up the bacterial load in your septic, we don’t recommend it. Use other healthy ways to improve the efficiency of your septic system.
Is Buttermilk Good For Your Septic Tank?
Buttermilk contains a lot of bacteria, making it safe to pour into the septic tank. However, buttermilk’s high-fat level can clog up the pipes and lead to a septic system failure. Hence, we don’t recommend pouring vast amounts of buttermilk into your septic tank.
As aforementioned, bacteria are pivotal in keeping your septic tank efficient. Actually, without the bacteria in your septic, you’d need to empty the tank more frequently, which means spending more money!
And since buttermilk is rich in bacteria, it’s suitable for your septic tank. But again, much like spoiled milk, there’s a significant setback in using buttermilk for your septic – fat.
Buttermilk contains high levels of fat, something that can clog up your septic pipes if you pour too much of it at once. And apparently, clogs aren’t something any septic tank owner wants. After all, unclogging septic costs an arm and a leg!
To be on the safe side, if you must pour milk into your septic, do it in small amounts once in a blue moon. This way, you’ll not only be promoting the efficiency of your septic system but also keeping your pocket happy.
Is Sour Milk Bad For a Septic Tank?
Yes, sour milk can be bad for a septic tank since its breakdown requires more oxygen, leaving other organisms gasping for air. It has some benefits, but the downsides of using sour milk for a septic tank outweigh them.
When it comes to whether you should pour any milk into your septic tank, it’s really a question of what outweighs what. On the one hand, milk (sour or otherwise) contains high levels of bacteria, which is necessary for the proper functioning of a septic tank.
On the other hand, milk (sour or otherwise) is also rich in fat and requires a lot of oxygen to break down, two things that can be detrimental to the septic system. And from where we stand, the disadvantages seem to outweigh the benefits.
Hence, our answer to the question – is sour milk bad for a septic tank – is a resounding yes! You see, much as milk can help improve your septic system’s efficiency, the environmental impact of using it for a septic tank is just too much.
Is It OK To Pour Milk Down The Drain?
It isn’t OK to pour milk down the drain. Milk contains high levels of fat that may clog your pipes and cause other plumbing issues. So, when you find yourself with some unwanted dairy, don’t consider disposing of it through the drain as an option.
Drain tends to be among the first things to come to mind when we think of how to get rid of milk. After all, it’s just liquid, right? Well, that’s where you’re wrong!
You see, milk may be mostly water, but it also contains high-fat levels. And when this fat mixes with the grease in your pipes, it can solidify and cause a clog. And as you know, clogs can lead to plumbing issues like backed-up toilets and overflowing sinks.
Of course, we don’t have to revisit the issue of the environmental impact of pouring milk down the drain. Just know that it isn’t good for the environment and you should avoid doing it as much as possible. Instead, consider alternative uses of milk which include;
1. Watering Indoor Plants
Milk contains high levels of water. It’s also rich in calcium, an essential nutrient that helps to promote strong and healthy plant growth. As such, you can use it for watering your plants. To water your plants with milk, add some milk to a spray bottle and spritz away!
2. Milk Sub in Baking
You can also use your sour milk as a substitute for buttermilk or milk in baking. Add an equal amount of sour milk for every cup of buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream, or milk called for in the recipe. It works well for biscuits, pancakes, cornbread, and other recipes in that line.
3. Spice Up Pet Food
If you have a Fido or feline friend, there’s another way you can use your sour milk – adding it to their food! This proteinaceous liquid to pet food can help to make it more appetizing. Even so, only use it in moderation, as too much of it can cause stomach upsets. And as usual, begin by ensuring that your pet isn’t allergic to dairy products.
4. Tenderize Meat
The other alternative use of sour milk is in meat tenderization. Soak the meat in question in milk for about 30 minutes before cooking. The lactic acid component in milk helps to break down the tough protein fibers in meat, making it more tender.
How Does a Septic System Work?
A septic system works by separating any incoming waste into three layers – the bottom sludge layer, the middle liquid layer, and the top scum layer. The middle layer connects to a leach field through perforated pipes where the water is slowly absorbed into the ground.
When wastewater from your home flows into the septic tank through the main drainage pipe, the solid particles settle at the bottom to form the sludge layer. Meanwhile, lighter stuff like grease, toilet paper, and soap rises to the top and creates the scum layer. And in between these two layers is the middle liquid layer, where all the wastewater is stored.
Now, the microorganisms at the bottom layer of the septic tank break down the solid particles in the sludge layer. The end result is a mixture of water and effluent (liquid waste) that leaves the septic tank through an outlet pipe into the leach field.
The leach field consists of a series of gravel-filled trenches or beds. It’s through these trenches that the effluent from the septic tank flows out slowly. As it does so, the water is gradually absorbed into the ground, where it’s filtered naturally.
What Products Cannot Be Used With The Septic Tank?
You shouldn’t flush anything outside human waste, water, and toilet paper into your septic tank. Actually, even the products labeled as ‘flushable’ can cause problems since they don’t break down as fast as toilet paper.
So, what shouldn’t you flush into your septic tank? Here’s a list of some of the things that you should keep out of your septic system;
- Coffee grounds
- Cooking oil
- Dental floss
- Eggshells
- Fats
- Grease
- Gasoline
- Cat litter
- Food
- Hair
- Medicines
- Nappies/diapers
- Paper towels
- Sanitary pads/tampons
- Cigarette butts
- Solvents
- Wet wipes
As you can see, the list of things you shouldn’t flush into your septic tank is quite long. And that’s because most of these things don’t break down quickly. So, they end up clogging your leach field and blocking the effluent flow from your septic tank.
Sometimes, the occasional flushing of these items doesn’t seem like a big deal. But then again, think of it – what if everyone in your neighborhood did the same thing? The cumulative effect would be disastrous!
And that’s why it’s always advisable to only flush human waste and toilet paper (not in excess) into your septic tank. The two won’t cause any septic issues you’ll likely get from flushing the other items on the list.
Final Verdict
Milk contains an enormous amount of bacteria that should do your septic tank a world of good. However, due to possible environmental concerns, you should not flush spoiled milk into your septic tank. Instead, consider its alternative uses, like watering plants, baking, etc. Otherwise, you may do more harm than good to the environment.