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| How
to Care For Your Septic System |
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Septic systems are a very simple way to treat household wastewater and
are easy to operate and maintain. Although homeowners must take a more
active role in maintaining septic systems, once they learn how their
systems work, it is easy for them to appreciate the importance of a
few sound operation and maintenance practices.
Pump Your Tank Regularly
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. Inspect Your System Annually Inspecting
your septic system annually is a good way to monitor your system's
health. Inspections can reveal problems before they become serious,
and by checking the levels of sludge and scum in your tank, you can
get a more accurate idea of how often it should be pumped. Finally, it
is important to protect your septic system from potential damage.
Don't plant anything but grass near your septic system-roots from
shrubs and trees can cause damage-and don't allow anyone to drive or
operate heavy machinery over any part of the system. Also, don't build
anything over the drainfield. Grass is the most appropriate cover for
the drainfield.
Use Water Wisely
Water conservation is very important for
septic systems because continual saturation of the soil in the
drainfield can affect the quality of the soil and its ability to
naturally remove toxins, bacteria, viruses, and other pollutants from
the wastewater. The most effective way to conserve water around the
house is to first take stock of how it is being wasted. Immediately
repair any leaking faucets or running toilets, and use washing
machines and dishwashers only when full. In a typical household, most
of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom, and there are a lot
of little things that can be done to conserve water there. For
example, try to avoid letting water run while washing hands and
brushing teeth. Avoid taking long showers and install watersaving
features in faucets and shower heads. These devices can reduce water
use by up to 50 percent. Low-flush toilets use one to two gallons per
flush compared to the three to five gallons used by conventional
toilets. Even using a toilet dam or putting a container filled with
rocks in the toilet tank can reduce water use by 25 percent.
It is also important to avoid overtaxing your system by using a lot of
water in a short time period, or by allowing too much outside water to
reach the drainfield. Try to space out activities requiring heavy
water use (like laundry) over several days. Also, divert roof drains,
surface water, and sump pumps away from the drainfield.
Know What Not To Flush
What you put into your septic system
greatly affects its ability to do its job. As a general rule of thumb,
do not dispose of anything in your septic system that can just as
easily be put in the trash. Remember that your system is not designed
to be a garbage disposal, and that solids build up in the septic tank
and eventually need to be pumped out. In the kitchen, avoid washing
food scraps, coffee grinds, and other food items down the drain.
Grease and cooking oils contribute to the layer of scum in the tank
and also should not be put down the drain. Garbage disposals can
increase the amount of solids in the tank up to 50 percent and are not
recommended for use with septic systems. The same common-sense
approach used in the kitchen should be used in the bathroom. Don't use
the toilet to dispose of plastics, paper towels, tampons, disposable
diapers, condoms, kitty litter, etc. The only things that should be
flushed down the toilet are wastewater and toilet paper.
Avoid Hazardous Chemicals
To avoid disrupting or permanently
damaging your septic system, do not use it to dispose of hazardous
household chemicals. Even small amounts of paints, varnishes,
thinners, waste oil, photo- graphic solutions, pesticides, and other
organic chemicals can destroy helpful bacteria and the biological
digestion taking place within your system. These chemicals also
pollute the groundwater. Some septic system additives that claim to
help or clean your system also contain hazardous chemicals and should
be avoided. Household cleaners, such as bleach, disinfectants,
and drain and toilet bowl cleaners should be used in moderation and
only in accordance with product labels. Overuse of these products can
harm your system. It makes sense to try to keep all toxic and
hazardous chemicals out of your septic tank system when possible.
To help prevent groundwater pollution, be sure to dispose of leftover
hazardous While many products on the market claim to help septic
systems work better, the truth is there is no magic potion to cure an
ailing system. In fact, most engineers and sanitation professionals
believe that commercial septic system additives are, at best, useless,
and at worst, potentially harmful to a system. There are two types of
septic system additives: biological (like bacteria, enzymes, and
yeast) and chemical. Most biological additives are harmless, but some
chemical additives can potentially harm the soil in the drainfield and
contaminate the groundwater. While there hasn't been extensive study
on the effectiveness of these products, the general consensus among
septic system experts is that septic system additives are unnecessary.
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