Sewage System Maintenance

Pump Septic Tank Periodically
The septic tank is the first step in sewage treatment. It normally remains full to the bottom of the outlet pipe. Any liquid entering the tank usually stays in the tank about two or three days. During that time, any solid materials settle to the bottom, any greases float to the top, and suspended materials are acted on by bacteria. There are two baffles in the septic tank; one keeps the liquid coming into the tank from stirring up the floating greases, an the other keeps both solids and greases away from the outlet pipe. The tank needs to be pumped whenever the total of the solids and the greases occupy 1/3 or more of the tank volume; for most households about every 2-3 years. the baffles should be checked at each pumping.

Keep Certain Things Out of the Sewer System
Garbage grinders add solid to the septic tank, so if you have one the tank should be pumped more often. Try to keep greases such as cooking oils or bacon fat out of the system. Use only white toilet paper; colored paper does not decompose as easily. Avoid harsh chemicals which could kill the bacteria in the tank, such as strong acids or too much bleach. Small amounts of bleach used in normal household laundry will not hurt the system, but don't overuse. The backwash from any water treatment system and condensate from the furnace may go to the ground surface. Some people feel that water conditioner backwash is harmful, but some research has shown that it is not. The key is make sure that the system is not back washing too often; some systems automatically backwash daily.

Avoid Overuse of Water
Repair leaking toilets or faucets immediately; these can add a lot of water. Don't run the water a long time to get a drink; try keeping some water cold in the refrigerator. Run the wash machine and dishwasher only with full loads. Avoid excessively long showers. Don't overcrowd the house. Sewage systems are sized according to the number of bedrooms in the house, and are based on two people per bedroom. Adding to the number of bedrooms or having more than two people per bedroom without increasing the size of the sewage system can cause premature system failure.