| AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A TON OF
CURE!
Committing a little attention to the care of your system can
help to avoid the nightmare of a failing system. Assuming that
your septic system was properly located, designed, and installed
according to state codes, you are now in the driver's seat for
the care of your system. By following the recommendations below,
you can help your system to work properly for years to come.
| DO'S |
DON'TS |
- Conserve water to reduce the amount of wastewater
that must be treated and disposed of by your system.
Doing laundry over several days will put less stress
on your system.
- Repair any leaking faucets or toilets. To detect
toilet leaks, add several drops of food dye to the
toilet tank and see if dye ends up in the bowl.
- Divert down spouts and other surface water away from
your tank and drainfield. Excessive water keeps the
soil from adequately cleansing the wastewater.
- Have your septic tank inspected and pumped regularly
by a licensed septic tank contractor.* Suggested frequency
is 3-5 years.
- Keep your septic tank cover accessible for inspectors
and pumpings. Install risers with lids if necessary.
- Call your county health department or a registered
septic tank contractor whenever you experience problems
with your system, or if there are any signs of system
failure.
- Keep a detailed record of repairs, pumpings, inspections,
and other maintenance activities. Pass these on to
the next homeowner.
|
- Don't drive over your tank or drainfield
or compact the soil in any way.
- Don't dig around the tank or drainfield, or build
anything over it, and don't cover it with a hard surface
such as concrete or asphalt.
- Don't plant anything over or near the drainfield
except grass. Roots from nearby trees and shrubs may
clog and damage the drain lines.
- Don't use a garbage disposal, or at least limit it's
usage. Disposals increase solids loadings to your tank
by about 50%, so you have to pump your tank more often
than normally suggested.
- Don't use your toilet as a trash can or poison your
system and the groundwater by pouring harmful chemicals
and cleansers down the drain. Harsh chemicals can kill
the bacteria that help purify your wastewater. See
the list below for examples.
- Don't put in a separate pipe to carry wash waters
to a side ditch or in the woods. This graywater contains
germs that can spread disease. Use a laundry system.
- Don't allow backwash from home water softners to
enter the septic system.
- Never enter a septic tank – toxic gases from the
tank can kill. If your system develops problems, get
advice from your county health department or a licensed
septic tank contractor.
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| DO NOT FLUSH... |
Coffee Grinds
Disposable Diapers
Sanitary napkins
Tampons
Condoms
Cigarette Butts
|
Fats, Grease or Oil
Paints
Thinners
Antibiotics
Dental Floss
Kitty Litter |
Paper Towels
Varnishes
Waste Oils
Pesticides
Photographic Solutions |
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