Septic System Maintenance & Tips
Soutwick Sewer and Drain
1) Have your septic tank pumped regularly.
You should not wait until the wastewater ponds in your yard or backs up
into your house. At that point you will not only need the system
pumped, but you may also have other costly repairs to do (figure
3).
2) Have your
system pumped by a reputable person. A good pumper will:
Pump wastewater through the manhole or access port, not the 4-inch inspection
pipe. The 4-inch pipe is too small for anyone to see if the tank
is sufficiently cleaned, or if there are any problems.
Backflush wastewater into the into the tank to loosen up materials, and
then pump it again. Although this takes longer, it ensures that the
tank is adequately pumped.
Spend time checking if the baffles or tees (figure
3) are in place and in working condition. These are necessary
to prevent your drainfield from clogging.
Dispose of your septage from your septic system in a legal manner.
This may be at the local wastewater treatment plant, or else through proper
land application.
3) Conserve water to reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to
be treated.
This will extend the life of your system. Constant water flow to
the septic tank doesn't give the solids a chance to settle, nor the scum
layer a chance to form. Instead, these materials stay suspended in
the wastewater and could make it to your drainfield. The solids and
grease can clog your drainfield, decreasing its ability to treat the wastewater.
This may lead to costly repairs or even replacement.
Here are some water conservation tips:
Spread out your water usage. Try to do a load of laundry a day, rather
than five loads on Saturday morning.
Install water conserving fixtures and appliances when you can.
Check for and repair leaks in your plumbing system.
Encourage family members to take short showers, and turn off the faucet
while brushing teeth.
4) Think about what you flush down the toilet or drain. Is
the septic system the best way to dispose of those materials you want to
get rid of?
Septic systems cannot handle cigarettes, diapers, feminine products, or
even facial tissue.
Garbage disposals grind up food products that might be better handled in
a compost pile. A garbage disposal puts a great strain on the septic
system. The increase in solid materials and water means you must
have a large tank, or you must pump it more frequently.
Grease and oils from cooking, frying, and even skin lotions will increase
the scum layer in your septic tank. This may necessitate more frequent
pumping.
Unwanted pesticides, cleaning products or other chemicals should not be
dumped down the drain. Check to see if your area has a household
hazardous waste collection site to ensure that these materials are safely
disposed of.
Don't overuse cleaning chemicals, including bleaches and drain cleaners.
A septic system can handle normal amounts. Avoid using automatic
toilet cleaning dispensers that release bleach with every flush.
This is hard on the rubber parts and seals in the toilet, and hard on the
bacteria in the septic tank that break down waste.
Additives or feeders are not necessary to keep your septic tank working.
In some cases, additives may keep materials suspended in the water and
allow them to flow out to the drainfield, increasing the potential for
clogging.
Certain brands of toilet tissue do not breakdown as readily in the septic
tank. Use of these products may require more frequent pumping.
5) Protect your septic tank and drainfield from excessive water and
traffic.
Divert water from roofs, downspouts or any other surface water away from
your drainfield.
Do not let anyone drive any vehicles over your drainfield, especially if
the soil is wet. This will compact the soil, and the drainfield will
not be able to treat the wastewater.
Do not site dog kennels or other animal confinement units over the drainfield.
Hooved animals should not be allowed to paddock over drainfield areas.
Do not construct anything - driveways, parking lots, patios, or buildings,
over the septic tank or drainfield.
6) Keep detailed records of repairs, pumping and other maintenance
activities. Have a sketch of the location of your septic tank and
drainfield for future maintenance as well as future owners.
Note: The following tips were developed by the On-site Wastewater
System Task Force, with members from the University of Nebraska Cooperative
Extension, Conservation and Survey, Nebraska Department of Environmental
Quality, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Sarpy County Planning
and Building Department, Douglas County Health Department, and Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services.
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