FM ABRAMS, OWNER
THE FOLLOWING ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CARE FOR YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM AND MINIMIZE PROBLEMS:· A SOGGY DRAINFIELD WON’T ABSORB AND NEUTRALIZE LIQUID WASTE. PLAN LANDSCAPING, ROOF GUTTERS AND FOUNDATION DRAINS SO THAT EXCESS WATER IS DIVERTED AWAY FROM THE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD.
· CHECK FAUCETS AND TOILETS FOR LEAKS; MAKE REPAIRS IF NECESSARY.
· USE AERATORS ON FAUCETS AND FLOW REDUCER NOZZLES ON SHOWERS TO HELP LOWER WATER CONSUMPTION.
· REDUCE WATER LEVELS FOR SMALL LOADS OF LAUNDRY.
· WAIT UNTIL THE DISHWASHER IS FULL TO RUN IT.
· USE A DISPLACER TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER NEEDED TO FLUSH THE TOILET.
· DISCOURAGE ROOT DAMAGE BY KEEPING TREES ATLEAST 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE SEPTIC SYSTEM.
· TREES WITH VERY AGGRESSIVE ROOTS, SUCH AS WILLOWS, SHOULD BE EVEN FARTHER AWAY FROM THE SYSTEM.
· NEVER FLUSH CAT LITTER, DISPOSABLE DIAPERS, PAPER TOWELS, FACIAL TISSUES, COFFEE GROUNDS OR CIGARETTE BUTTS AND FILTERS. THEY’LL CLOG YOUR SEPTIC TANK IN LESS TIME THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.
· A GARBAGE DISPOSAL CAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF SOLIDS ADDED TO A SEPTIC TANK.
· CHOOSE A TOP-LINE DISPOSAL THAT GRINDS FOOD INTO TINY PARTICALS THAT ARE EASIER FOR A SYSTEM TO DIGEST.
· OVERUSE OF HEAVY CLEANERS KILL BACTERIA THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR SEPTIC TANK CAUSING SOLIDS NOT TO BREAK DOWN AS WELL.
· DO NOT POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN. GREASE CAN CLOG THE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOIL TO ABSORB LIQUIDS. IF THIS HAPPENS YOU’LL NEED A NEW DRAINFIELD.
· VARNISH, PAINT THINNERS, MOTOR OILS, GASOLINE AND OTHER SIMILAR CHEMICALS CAN RUIN YOUR SYSTEM AND ARE A HAZARD TO GROUNDWATER. DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY.
· DO NOT DRIVE OVER THE DRAINFIELD, BUILD A STRUCTURE ON TOP OF IT OR COVER IT WITH CONCRETE OR ASPHALT.
· PLANT GRASS ON THE DRAINFIELD TO MINIMIZE SOIL EROSION.
· PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENANCE: SOLIDS MUST EVENTUALLY BE PUMPED FROM THE TANK. THE AVERAGE FAMILY OF FOUR SHOULD HAVE THEIR SEPTIC TANK PUMPED EVERY 3-5 YEARS.
· NEVER ATTEMPT TO OPEN A SEPTIC TANK YOURSELF. GASES AND BACTERIA INSIDE YOUR SEPTIC TANK ARE DANGEROUS.
