How To Care For Your Septic System:
Deuteronomy 23:12–13 (ESV):
You shall have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it. And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement.
CONSERVE WATER WHENEVER POSSIBLE:
- Check faucet and toilets for leaks.
- Use aerators on faucets and flow reducer nozzles on showers to help lower water consumption.
- Reduce water levels for small loads of laundry or consider buying energy-efficient appliances.
- Wait until the dishwasher is full to run it or try a shorter dishwasher cycle, which uses less water.
- Do not do several loads of laundry in a single day, but spread it out over several days.
DO NOT USE TOILET AS A GARBAGE DISPOSAL:
- Never flush cat litter, diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, facial tissues, coffee grounds, or cigarette butts down the toilet.
- Avoid disposal of medication down drains or toilet (kills biology).
- A garbage disposal can double the amount of solids added to a septic tank. Do not dispose of large amounts of foods down drain. Use mesh drain strainer to help catch solids to throw in garbage can.
DO NOT POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN:
- Grease can clog the septic drain field, making it impossible for soil to absorb liquids. If you pour too much grease down the drain, you’ll need a new drain field, which can be costly.
DIVERT RAINWATER FROM THE SEPTIC DRAIN FIELD:
- A saturated drain field will not absorb and neutralize liquid waste.
- Plan landscaping, roof gutters, and foundation drains so that excess water is diverted away from the septic drain field.
KEEP TREES AWAY FROM THE SEPTIC SYSTEM:
- Discourage root damage be keeping trees at least 100 feet away from the septic system.
- Trees with very aggressive roots, such as willows and oaks, should be even further away from the system.
MINIMIZE HEAVY DUTY CLEANERS:
- Overuse of heavy-duty cleaners kills beneficial bacterial in the septic tank, so solids will not break down as well.
- Varnish, paint thinners, motor oils, gasoline and other similar chemicals can ruin your system and are a hazard to groundwater.
PROTECT THE SYSTEM FROM DAMAGE:
- Do not drive over the drain field, build a structure on top of it, or cover it with concrete of asphalt.
- Plant grass or lay sod on drain field to stabilize and minimize soil erosion.
PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENANCE:
- Solids must eventually be pumped from the septic tank. Many experts advise a family of four with a 1,000-gallon septic tank to have the tank pumped after three to five years of full-time use.
- Never attempt to open a septic tank yourself. It contains dangerous gasses and bacteria.
- Call your septic professional the first sign of problems.
- Septic tank filters should be cleaned on a yearly basis.
- Add PRO-PUMP liquid live bacteria to speed and assure continued microbial performance.