SepticSmart Week

This week, September 16-22, 2019 is SepticSmart Week, an annual event focused on educating homeowners and communities on the proper care and maintenance of their septic systems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 25 million Americans with septic systems generate more than 4 billion gallons of wastewater each day. This waste water is dispersed below the ground’s surface every day by the various types of drainfields.

Household wastewater contains disease causing bacteria and viruses and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as everything else your household flushes down the toilet or pours down a drain. If a septic system is well-maintained and working properly, it will remove most bacteria, viruses, phosphorus and nitrogen. However, if your septic system is not working properly, insufficiently treated sewage can cause groundwater contamination, which can spread disease in humans and animals. All water in a watershed is connected. Improperly treated sewage poses the risk of contaminating nearby surface waters, too. Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals toxic to local waterways. When these pollutants are released into the ground, they eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes, and harm local ecosystems by killing native plants, fish, and shellfish.

One of the biggest things you can do for the environment is to properly maintain you septic system. EPA’s SepticSmart initiative is a nation-wide public education effort to get us to learn how to properly operate and maintain our septic systems. When properly designed, maintained and operated a septic or alternative septic system effectively and efficiently treats domestic sewage to protect water quality and support local water supplies. The wastewater from septic systems stays in the local watershed as it returns to the drain field, dispersing into the underlying soil and eventually recharging groundwater and/or reentering the local watershed.

However, your need to have the right system for your household and for your soils and geology. Advanced septic systems can achieve treatment levels comparable to centralized wastewater treatment plants, minimizing the level of phosphates and nitrogen entering the ground water. Discharging to the soil can further remove contaminants, by acting as a final filter. Septic systems can be an important part of a sustainable water system; and your environmental stewardship should begin at home.

Septic Inspection

The EPA's SepticSmart web site has many useful tips and printouts. You may want to look over the offerings. EPA's Tips for septic systems:

• Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank. In general, homeowners should have their traditional septic system inspected every three years and their alternative system inspected annually by a licensed contractor and have their tank pumped when necessary, generally every two to five years.
• Use water efficiently. The less water that flows into a septic system the longer it will last. Spread out water use especially laundry and dishwasher loads throughout the day and week. Too much water at once can overload a system .
• Don’t dispose of household hazardous wastes in sinks and toilets.  Only to put things in the drain or toilet that belong there. For example, coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage septic systems. Flushable wipes are not flushable and do not break down in a septic tank.
• Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the drainfield.
• Don’t drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic system. Doing so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the pipes, tank, or other septic system components.