4 Tips to Avoid Awful Septic System Back-Ups

It's the first-ever SepticSmart Week, September 23-27 and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging homeowners to make sure their septic systems are functioning properly. 

Nearly one quarter of all American households—more than 26 million homes—depend on septic systems to treat their wastewater. 

Failure to maintain and service a home’s septic system can lead to system back-ups and overflows, which can result in costly repairs, polluted local waterways and risks to public health and the environment. Many septic system failures occur during the winter holiday season, so EPA is encouraging homeowners to get their septic systems inspected and serviced now before licensed inspectors’ schedules fill up around the holidays.

Homeowners can do their part by following these SepticSmart tips: 

• Homeowners should have their system inspected every three years by a licensed contractor and have their tank pumped when necessary, generally every three to five years.

•  Avoid pouring fats, grease, and solids down the drain, which can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.

• Ask guests to put only things in the drain or toilet that belong there. Coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage septic systems. 

•  Be water efficient and spread out water use. Consider fixing plumbing leaks and installing faucet aerators and water-efficient products that bear the EPA WaterSense label, and spread out laundry and dishwasher loads throughout the day. Too much water at once can overload a system if it hasn’t been pumped recently. Remind guests not to park or drive on a system’s drain field, where the vehicle’s weight could damage buried pipes or disrupt underground flow.

More information on EPA’s SepticSmart Awareness Week:http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/septic-smart-week-2013.cfm