There are many things you should do to ensure the efficient operation of a home's individual wastewater treatment facility, commonly known as a septic system.
You should ALWAYS:
- Have your septic tank pumped every 2-3 years, depending on the number of people in the household
- Repair leaking toilets and dripping faucets
- Maintain a ground cover of grass over the leach field
- Address potential signs of trouble: slow draining toilets, sewage odors, surface water in the leach area
- Divert gutter drains and surface water away from your septic system
- Use a reputable contractor to perform repairs to your system
You should NEVER:
- Park on or drive over your septic system
- Dig into your leach field or build anything on top of it
- Plant trees in the leach field because their roots can disrupt and eventually clog leach lines
- Dump chemicals or non-biodegradable items into your septic system
- Connect a sump pump discharge to your septic system
For a detailed guide on the operation and maintenence of your home's septic system, click on the link below