Medication and Your Septic System
Prior to 1999, flushing prescription pills and other medications, such as aspirin and antihistamines, down the toilet was a common practice that was considered safe. Then, however, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) set new guidelines to dispose of medicine. These include throwing them in the garbage, and mixing them into kitty litter or coffee grounds, since flushing certain medications isn’t always safe. Medication naturally makes its way into your septic system by way of human waste. Any time we take any type of medicine or drug, the part that is not broken down by the body is eliminated in our waste. It is not known how much of the drug ends up in our waste, but it is estimated that about 10% is excreted through the natural elimination process. What that means is that medication ends up in our septic system any time we take it. How Medicine Affects Your Septic System Septic systems work differently than sewage treatment facilities. They typically only serve one property, s