Photo chemicals and septic systems

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Board,

I try to do the right thing for the environment at all times. I am sure that photo chemicals in sewer systems are not good, but volume in a sewer system increases the dilution and helps to mitigate things.

However, I have a sand mound septic system and I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything I need to be aware of regarding chemicals in a septic system?

I want to develop my own 35mm B&W film, but I don't want to risk a catastrophe?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[PKR]

Dear Board,

I try to do the right thing for the environment at all times. I am sure that photo chemicals in sewer systems are not good, but volume in a sewer system increases the dilution and helps to mitigate things.

However, I have a sand mound septic system and I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything I need to be aware of regarding chemicals in a septic system?

I want to develop my own 35mm B&W film, but I don't want to risk a catastrophe?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

I don't think it's a good idea to upset the biology in your system. Check with a specialists to be sure. Mixing exhausted fix and developer might help with the PH ? I would store the old chemistry ..maybe let it evaporate in a shallow, open air, storage system and dispose of the solids properly. .

 

[sepiareverb]

Never caused problems in my septic during the 17 years I was on it. Pumped regularly tho.

I used B&W and RA4 chems, and did a good bit of toning. The large volumes of wash water are likely more potentially problematic than the chems. When I moved to that place Kodak tech support (remember those guys? amazing!) didn’t have concerns. That was a long time ago now, and such simple solutions to simple non-concerns seem so quaintly outdated.

I’d be more worried about the dried residue getting airborne and being on everything in the house should you go the evaporation route.

 

[PKR]

Never caused problems in my septic during the 17 years I was on it. Pumped regularly tho.

I used B&W and RA4 chems, and did a good bit of toning. The large volumes of wash water are likely more potentially problematic than the chems. When I moved to that place Kodak tech support (remember those guys? amazing!) didn’t have concerns. That was a long time ago now, and such simple solutions to simple non-concerns seem so quaintly outdated.

I’d be more worried about the dried residue getting airborne and being on everything in the house should you go the evaporation route.

The "sludge" is like mud It's moved into plastic containers and taken to the waste people. No charge if taken on free days. If it's allowed to dry, its pretty solid. I think if it's safe, you might look at the quantity of chemistry being dumped. Locally, no one even parks near or over the leach field. The last one I saw in trouble cost $8k to clean and repopulate. Just my experience.

 

[rfaspen]

All depends on the chems and the quantity/frequency. I've used "standard" developers such as D76 or Rodinal and fixes based on hypo for several years in a septic serviced house. No problems ever. I think the tank was pumped once in 30 years for other reasons.

I can see some chems making trouble for your germs though. Some toners sound a bit bad (selenium in quantity is not good) and pyro based developers are likely bad too. I wouldn't worry about the silver in your waste fix. But.....I have to admit that I've used both and put the waste in my septic system. Very few times though! I can count the number of times I've used pyro on my fingers.

Another interesting option....ever hear of a Silver Magnet? Commercial labs use them as SOP. They are available for hobbyists too. I last saw ads for them over at APUG (I think now called Photrio?). Look interesting. Evironmentally friendly. The silver is purchased from you and that might offset costs? I don't know.

 

[pixelated]

In general, developers are not any worse than other chemistry that goes down your drain routinely, for example laundry bleach, various detergents, and so on.
Spent fix shouldn't go down the drain without some sort of de-silvering treatment. I collect mine and take it to the community hazardous waste collection point.

Developers vary in toxicity too, Xtol is less toxic than most film developers, for paper developers I'm not sure which ones stand out, Sprint, perhaps?

Aside from all that, it's not a bad idea to check up on your local laws.

 

[02Pilot]

I'm on a septic as well, and FWIW, for me one of the attractions of Caffenol as a developer was that it was about as non-toxic as it gets - instant coffee, vitamin C powder, and washing soda. I've been using it exclusively for years.

 

[rfaspen]

I was going to mention Caffenol. A very capable developer that I've been using lately. I seem to use HC110 about 60% of the time and Caffenol the remaining 40%....lately.

Spent fix, loaded with silver salts, can go into the septic system but will influence the biota. If you're lucky and live in an area with appropriate geology (an area with volcanic intrusion into mostly sedimentary substrates, or so I'm told), you will probably naturally get some microbes that can handle that silver for you, along with your typical assortment of nitrogen-loving bugs. Or you can collect the spent fix and evaporate it down to sludge for disposal, OR get a Silver Magnet and see if it pays for itself. Discussion here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/silver-magnet-silver-recovery-device.54465/