Earlier this year, Costco’s toilet paper was a trending topic amongst homeowners of properties with septic tanks because of claims that assured Costco toilet paper damages septic tanks. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case.
If you own a septic tank, you probably know this: flushing toilet paper will damage your septic system, no matter the brand. And the evidence points at Costco toilet paper being just as safe as any other brand of the product, as long as you treat your septic system right.
This misconception spread quickly after a message started circulating about a family with some septic system issues. Allegedly, one of their pipes burst and later they found they had another issue with their septic tank, and after calling a professional, the man came to the conclusion that it was because they use Costco toilet paper, and this particular brand is not biodegradable, hence the paper doesn’t break down, which led them to septic tank full of white toilet paper that was still intact. In fact, the message claims that even those homeowners who don’t have a septic tank and are on city services instead have experienced issues the paper clogs the pipe that connects to the city pipes, and of course, as it is expected the sewage will back up into your house, which is something no one wants to deal with.
Around 20 percent of households in the US still depend on a septic system, and although this means that this is not the most common system but nonetheless, there are still products created and targeted to this specific market. However, in spite of not being the most common of the systems, some things are rather obvious, like the fact that anything in excess will damage your septic tank, even water.
Toilet paper has been designed to be easily flushed, and there’s no reason or evidence that could confirm that septic systems have problems filtering out standard toilet paper. Nevertheless, flushing too much of it at once will clog your plumbing system, whether you have a septic tank or you’re connected to a public sewer. If Costco’s toilet paper is your all-time favorite, there’s no reason for you to change it, or any other brand of your choice. All you have to do is take the necessary precautions and be kind to your plumbing system –whatever this might be.
A few extra tips you can follow to avoid any other complications with your plumbing system include:
- Choose a thinner single-ply paper breaks down faster.
- Check your drainpipes and make sure they’re in good condition.
- Replace any damaged or rusty drainpipes at your earliest convenience.
