Don’t Create a Stink This Holiday Season

Don’t Create a Stink This Holiday Season

Easy ways to keep your septic system flowing smoothly

The holiday season with its happy gatherings of family and friends may not seem like the perfect time to talk about proper use and maintenance of septic systems.

But it is.

No one needs the extra cost of repairs or cleanups, especially during the gift-giving season. And yet, large holiday get-togethers can mean hosting out-of-town guests who can overwhelm a system and may not be familiar with necessary septic system precautions.

So residents who use septic tanks – an estimated 25 percent of the population – may want to follow a few simple steps to keep their holiday smelling sweet and prevent polluted runoff from reaching local lakes, rivers and streams.

Properly maintained and used, septic systems are a safe way to dispose of wastewater in more than 26 million homes across the U.S. But back-ups and overflows can lead to nitrogen runoff that can turn lakes and rivers green with algae and rob underwater life of oxygen.

That’s in addition to creating a stink neighbors and relatives may never forget, as well as repair bills that can run into the hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

To prevent problems, here are some tips to keep your septic system flowing smoothly:

• Tell people what not to flush. Ask visitors not to put the following items into sink drains or toilets: hair combings, coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers, kitty litter, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, condoms, gauze bandages, fat, grease, oil, paper towels, paints, varnishes, thinners, waste oils, photographic solutions or pesticides.
• Don’t overwhelm the system. If holiday gatherings are large, establish a schedule for showering, bathing, washing clothes and cleaning dishes to ensure the septic system is not overwhelmed by an excessive amount of wastewater.
• Keep cars off the drainage field. Remind guests that the drainage field is an essential part of the septic system and that they should not park their vehicles on sections of the yard where the weight could damage buried pipes or disrupt underground flow.
• Keep your system maintained. For typical septic systems, EPA recommends a professional inspection every three years with typical tanks pumped out every three to five years. Some systems may require more frequent maintenance.

The results will not only be a merrier holiday; properly maintained septic systems protect our drinking water, our favorite fishing holes and the lakes and rivers we use for recreation. Septic system use is growing. The EPA has found that about 40 percent of new developments are served by septic systems. In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau has indicated that at least 10 percent of septic systems have stopped working. State agencies say malfunctioning systems are the third most common source of ground water contamination.

So remember that following proper guidelines will help prevent expensive repairs and keep the environment clean -- not only during the holiday season -- but throughout the entire year.

For more information, check out the following sources.

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Septic Systems website: http://cfpub.epa.gov/owm/septic
• National Association of Wastewater Transporters: www.nawt.org
• National Small Flows Clearinghouse has a Technical Assistance Hotline that can be accessed toll free at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191
• Your nearest Cooperative Extension Service Office: www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension