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*
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 &
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. Pumping
your septic tank is probably the single most important thing
you can do to protect your system. If the buildup of
solids in the tank becomes too high and solids move to the
drainfield, this could clog and strain the system to the point
where a new drainfield will be needed.
* Keep your septic tank
cover accessible for inspections 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. |
X Don't drive over your
tank & drainfield or compact the soil in any
way.
X 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.
X Don't plant
anything over or near the drainfield except grass. Roots
from nearby trees and shrubs may clog and damage the drain
lines.
X Don't use a garbage
disposal, or at least limit its usage. Disposals
increase solids loadings to your tank by 50%, so you have to
pump your tank more often than normally suggested.
X 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. Examples: coffee grounds,
disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, cigarette butts, fats,
grease or oil, paints, thinners, photographic solutions,
antibiotics, dental floss, kitty litter, tampons, condoms,
paper towels, varnishes, waste oils and pesticides.
X Don't put in a separate
pipe to carry wash waters to a side ditch or the woods.
This graywater contains germs that can spread disease.
Use a laundry system.
X Don't waste money on
septic tank additives. The bacteria needed to treat
wastewater is naturally present in sewage. Additives can
resuspend solids causing your drainfield to clog.
Additives do not eliminate the need for routine pumping of
your tank.
X Don't allow backwash
from home water softeners to enter the septic
system.
X 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. |
