FINCHforum

Okay, I bought virkon powder to soak water dishes w/ alternating days & for periodic disinfecting. The MSDS info intimidated me at first, but everyone here seems to love it and experiences a very large safety rate using the product.

I want to know how you dispose of the liquid solution once its 7-day potency is up. I don't want to dump it down the drain and inadvertently kill off wildlife, or something equally bad.

Inlovesorange kindly offered my some advice on what she does in a separate thread re: Disinfecting Wood, but I figured I'd make a separate thread entirely.

Since the Virkon S loses its viability after 7 days, I have just been pouring it down the drain. I have a septic system, so liquid is eventually leached out into my yard. I've never noticed any change in the grass in that area. To tell the truth, I never gave it a thought!

I don't know about the tablets, but the powder itself is caustic, and care should be taken when handling it. I have a measuring spoon that just stays with the Virkon S, so I don't have to touch the powder. Once the powder is disolved in water, it is no longer caustic. I put my hands right in the bucket of disinfectant water without problem, but then I wash them after I am finished.

If your sewage is treated (i.e. municipal sewage treatment plant etc), I've always been told that is the best place to put detergents or non-toxic chemicals (such as Virkon) as the processes used to treat the sewage will also get rid of any chemicals.
Virkon is affected by high temperatures (denatures and oxidises), so you could boil the solution and then pour it out after that if you are super worried. Just stay away from any evaporating fumes to be safe.

Not sure if you get F10 SC there. That is still to me the safest and easiest disinfectant to use. It becomes inactive as soon as it dries, so all you would need to do is put it on a hard surface like concrete / patio and wait for it to dry. It is also rendered inactive when mixed with soap or other detergent.

Sally wrote: Since the Virkon S loses its viability after 7 days, I have just been pouring it down the drain. I have a septic system, so liquid is eventually leached out into my yard. I've never noticed any change in the grass in that area. To tell the truth, I never gave it a thought!

I don't know about the tablets, but the powder itself is caustic, and care should be taken when handling it. I have a measuring spoon that just stays with the Virkon S, so I don't have to touch the powder. Once the powder is disolved in water, it is no longer caustic. I put my hands right in the bucket of disinfectant water without problem, but then I wash them after I am finished.

I pour the expired liquid make up into the drain also.

Me too