On-site Wastewater Systems - Do's and Don'ts

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Do:

• Use water efficiently.
• Use household cleaners in moderation.
• Avoid putting grease and fat down the drain.
• Keep records of repairs, pumping, inspections and any other pertinent maintenance actions.
• Learn the location of your on-site wastewater treatment system.
• Put a fence or other barrier to prevent damage to your on-site wastewater treatment system, if necessary.
• Have the septic tank pumped periodically.
• Take immediate action to correct problems when they arise.

Don't:

• Drive over or park on any part of an on-site wastewater treatment system.
• Use an on-site wastewater treatment system as a trash can.
• Build anything over an on-site wastewater treatment system or cover the system with a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt.
• Allow surface drainage of any kind to runoff over a drainfield.
• Discharge water softener backwash or sump pump effluent into the septic tank.
• Allow rain gutters or storm drains to discharge into or on top of an on-site wastewater treatment system.
• Plant water-loving or deep-rooted plants over the system.
• Allow sump pump effluent to enter the septic tank and/or drainfield.