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.