As RVers, we have many options when it comes to all sorts of products that we are told are “must haves” for our many systems on our RVs while camping.

There are so many options that it can be really confusing to know which products will actually work. Doing research on the products we are interested in can also be frustrating. There are so many different opinions and sales pitches online that can often lead to more confusion than answers.

This can be especially true when it comes to RV holding tank treatments.

Many products make unjustified claims on their packaging and marketing materials. It can be difficult to understand what is even in the product. Let alone what it will actually do in your holding tank.

We intend to look at two ingredients which are often confused as being the same on packaging and in online discussions. Bacteria and Enzymes.

Enzymes

We will start with enzymes as they are more prevalent in RV holding tank treatments. 

Enzymes are non-living, organic protein molecules that are nearly everywhere in nature. In holding tank treatments they are used to make chemical reactions happen faster. Specifically, they lock onto waste and cause them to break apart.

When they have done this to a waste molecule they will move onto the next waste molecule and break it apart. While this is an excellent feature of enzymes, they only exist for a certain period of time. Unfortunately, the period of time is often not long enough to break apart every waste product in a holding tank.

Enzymes are also limited by their quantity and are unable to reproduce.

Bacteria

Bacteria, on the other hand, are living organisms that are found in even more places in nature than almost any other lifeforms.

From the human digestive system to radioactive waste, these organisms are crucial to life on earth. The reason why they are so important is because they are responsible for the recycling of nutrients in almost all places they are found.

Bacteria also reproduce quickly. They also have the ability to make enzymes.

In holding tank treatments, bacteria is used in a few different capacities:

  • Bacteria eat the ingredients of the waste that is broken up by enzymes such as starches, fats, oils, grease and even toilet paper.

  • Bacteria release water and carbon dioxide after they digest the waste ingredients.

  • Bacteria can create more enzymes that will lock onto waste and break them down quickly, giving a greater food source for bacteria to eat.

  • Bacteria reproduce unlike enzymes and continue to do so indefinitely.

The Takeaway

Though enzymes are a fantastic way to help in the breaking down of waste in a holding tank treatment. They are limited in the amount of time that they are effective.

Because of this, having bacteria along with enzymes in a holding tank treatment is necessary to keep the waste breakdown process going. Enzymes kickstart the waste breakdown process. Bacteria keep the process going by eating and digesting the waste and making more enzymes.

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