Using
a properly maintained septic system costs considerably
less than paying annual sewer usage fees. However, when
septic systems are not properly maintained, they can
cost a bundle.
A
septic system ignored for years is more or less
guaranteed to cause water pollution and create big
repair bills. You wouldn't try to drive your car for
100,000 miles without an oil change. Yet without
thinking about it, many people routinely dump ten years
worth of waste into their septic system, and expect it
to disappear. Septic systems are extraordinary devices,
but they're not magic.
This
is why we advise you to learn and live by 5 simple
rules of septic system maintenance. Together, we can
save money and keep the Neponset Watershed's waterways
clean and flowing!
Septic
System Maintenance Guidelines:
1.
Pump it! Keeping your system clean with regular
pump-outs is the most important step in septic
maintenance. Most people should have a septic system
contractor pump-out their system every other year.
People using garbage disposals and those with very large
households will probably need to pump every year.
Very small households may be able to go 3
years between pumping. Pumping is cheap insurance,
so when in doubt, pump it out! Regular pumping
will keep solids from spilling out of the holding tank
and ruining the leaching field. It will also help you
find and fix small problems before they become big
headaches. Also, remember that chemical additives or
septic system cleaners (despite advertisements) are no
substitute for pump-outs; they don't make solids
disappear! The Walpole Board of Health and the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection do
not recommend using septic system additives.
2.
Reduce Water Use! Household water conservation will
not only make your septic system last longer, it will
cut your water and energy bills. Here's how you can
cut water use:
-
Repair leaking fixtures.
-
Replace that 5-gallon toilet with a modern low-flow
model (the new ones get the job
done and are surprisingly cheap).
-
Install a stylish low-flow showerhead (you won't run out
of hot water in the shower,
anymore).
-
When you buy a new washing machine or dishwasher, insist
on a model with the
Energy Star Label.
-
Don't let the water run during teeth-brushing, shaving
or dishwashing.
3.
Hold the Garbage! You can help your septic system
get in shape by putting it on a low-solids diet. Here's
how you can send fewer solids down your drains:
-
Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket.
-
Avoid using a a garbage disposal, or better yet, don't
install one at all.
-
Watch out for certain foods, like cooking grease, that
are sure to cause your
system heartburn.
Since grease is difficult to break-down in a septic
system, collect it in a can and keep it in the fridge
instead of pouring it down the drain.
4.
Don't Sterilize It! Beneficial bacteria are one of
the keys to a healthy septic system; anything you put
down the drain that kills bacteria also harms your
septic system.
-
Try to limit your use of harsh chemicals and
antibacterial products such as bleach,
ammonia
and drain cleaners. For example, spot-clean mildew in
the shower with bleach instead of cleaning the
whole shower using a cleanser containing bleach.
-
Clear clogged drains with a plunger, boiling water, or a
drain snake rather than with
chemicals.
In one study, less than 12 grams of drain cleaner killed
the bacteria in a septic system!
-
Finally, never put paint, motor oil, pesticides or other
household hazardous wastes
down
the drain. Bring them to your Town's Hazardous Waste
Collection Day.
5.
Map It! Map the location of your holding tank and
leaching field to prevent damage to your system. Knowing
where your system is can help you avoid partaking in the
activities that can block, crush, or crack system
components. Knowing where your system is will also save
you money on pump-outs and inspections!
-
Don't drive across your septic system.
-
Don't pave over it.
-
Don't plant shrubs or trees above it.
-
Don't dig into it.
