1. Can Shactivate reduce odors coming from my septic system?
2. I have septic odors coming into the house. Can Shactivate eliminate this?
3. I have used Shactivate to improve the flow and reduce the odors from my septic system, but I still have to pump the tank 1-2 times a year. Can Shactivate help to reduce the need to pump the tank so often?
4. I have a blockage in my home septic plumbing. Can Shactivate help?
5. I have solids building up in my septic tank. Will Shactivate help to reduce these solids?
6. How much Shactivate should I use to keep my septic system odor, solids and blockage free?
7. How do I apply Shactivate to my home septic system?
8. How long should I wait before expecting results from Shactivate treatment?
9. How does Shactivate help reduce solids and odors?
10. Do bacterial and yeast additives do the same thing?
11. Where can I purchase Shactivate?

• Yes. Shactivate is designed to stimulate the resident microbes present in your septic system. This includes microbes present from the collection network to the septic tank, and throughout the leach/drainage field.

• Most often this source of odor is due to a lack of air in the septic system. Most septic systems have a source of fresh air which moves along with the outgoing water and material each time you flush a toilet or empty a sink/tub. If the intake is on the roof of the home inspect the intake and remove any blockages (eg. leaves/birds nests) before treating the septic tank. If the blockage is in the septic treatment system and it is organic (biodegradable), Shactivate treatment should remove the blockage and reduce the odours.

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• Pumping is generally required because the inflow exceeds the potential for the leach field to accept the material draining from the septic tank (i.e. leach field is saturated). If this has been a problem since the septic system was developed it may not be possible to reduce the need to pump the tank annually or bi-annually. An additional problem may be a structural fault in the weeping tile which has developed since building the drainage field initially. In severe cases saturation of the field can become so great that liquid begins to appear collecting above ground. However, most locations have to be pumped because the leach field has, over time, become saturated with solid organic particulates which have filled in spaces which used to absorb the drainage. In this case, direct application of 10L Shactivate into the 'grey water' side of the septic tank (i.e. the side closest to the drainage field) is recommended. Once the field begins to clear and surface collected water subsides, tank pumping schedules should reduce significantly, although annual pump-out service may still be required..
• * Blockages in the leach field or weeping tile can be caused by structural damage (eg. field buried under high traffic areas in farm yard), tree root infiltration or inorganic/mineral deposits. None of these conditions can be solved by using Shactivate. However, Shactivate treatment is a cheap and simple method of troubleshooting a septic field saturation problem. If saturation remains three weeks after treatment the field is likely damaged rather than 'saturated' with organics.

• If the collection system for your residential sewage pipes is blocked or drainage is slow you may find that Shactivate is often a successful treatment, depending on the cause of the constriction or blockage. Apply up to 1L of Shactivate and allow the product to remain in the location of the drainage problem or blockage (sink/toilet) over-night or as long as possible. Attempt to flush water through the sink/toilet 8-12 hours after application; if the drain is still blocked alternate methods may be required to remove the blockage. If the drainage is simply slow, employ this over-night method until drainage returns to normal.

• Yes. Shactivate will help reduce solids in the 'black water' chamber as well as reduce the accumulation of organic solids throughout the entire sewage disposal system (i.e. 'grey water' chamber and weeping tile).

• For regular residential applications use 1L of Shactivate initially and maintain the system with 1L per resident per year, applied regularly over the course of the year (eg. 1 house with 2 adults and 2 children = 4L/year, apply 1L every 3 months). Regular applications are made through the sewage collection system (i.e. flush down toilet or into a sink).

• Regular applications are made through the sewage collection system (i.e. flush down toilet or into a sink). For a system with pre-existing field drainage problems, shock the system with a 10L application to the septic tank (grey water side) prior to applying the first 1L maintenance dose down the toilet.

• This can vary based on the symptoms being treated, the correct application being made and the levels of chemical cleaners/antibiotics and other wastewater treatment products used in the past, which may be concentrated in the septic tank and field. Three to six weeks after your first application most conditions should improve.

• Solids are reduced because the ingredients in Shactivate stimulate resident microbes to digest the organic matter. Odors are also reduced because the treatment encourages anaerobic (odor forming bacteria) and aerobic (non-odor forming bacteria) to balance their populations which helps to combat odor. Offensive odors associated with sewage are most typically the product of anaerobically dominated conditions. Shactivate combats this imbalance and creates an environment acceptable for the growth and reproduction of both groups of bacteria.

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• No. Bacteria and yeast additives are just an assortment of organisms which have been manufactured and packaged for application to waste in general and often are not capable of becoming active in such a variety of conditions existing in the wastewater industry. Alternatively, Shactivate simply promotes the growth and reproduction of bacteria which are already present in that exact location (i.e. resident), no matter where the location is. As long as nutrients are continuously fed into the Shactivate treated system, the resident bacterial populations remain high.

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• To locate a distributor near you, go to the Distributors section of this web site.
• To locate a retail outlet near you, go to the Dealers section of this web site.

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