Following these care and maintenance guidelines will prolong the life of your sewage system. We recommend that you keep this information with your important papers. If you sell or rent your house, pass it along to the new residents!

Remember: Maintenance is much cheaper than replacement!

Four things you can do to help your sewage system:

1. Pump your septic tank regularly.
2. Use water efficiently.
3. Manage what goes down drains.
4. Protect your drainfield.

Pump Your Septic Tank Regularly: One of the most important things you can do to keep the system functioning properly is to have the septic tank pumped regularly. Scum and/or sludge could build up and be carried to the drainfield if the tank is not pumped regularly. This will clog the drainfield and not allow wastewater to be treated. Wastewater may form a pond in the yard or back up into the house. At this point, you will probably be facing costly repairs or replacement, instead of minimal maintenance expenses. Follow these guidelines:

• Know the location of your septic tank cover.
• Keep the cover easily accessible to the pumper. A marker may help you identify the area.
• Have the pumper inspect the outlet device each time the tank is pumped.
• Have your septic tank pumped by a licensed pumper every 3-5 years. Check the yellow pages for pumpers in your area.
• With a 2-tank system or 2-compartment tank, pump the first tank or compartment every 3-5 years, and pump the second tank or compartment every other time.
• Do not wash or disinfect the septic tank after it has been pumped.

Use Water Efficiently: As a gallon of wastewater flows into the tank from the house, a gallon of effluent flows out of the tank into the drainfield. If wastewater moves in and out of the tank too rapidly due to constant or heavy water flow, solids remaining in the wastewater may move out of the tank into the drainfield, clogging it. Conserve water and spread out water usage by following these suggestions:

• Wash one or two loads of laundry a day, rather than three or more loads in one day.
• Install low-flow water fixtures, low volume toilets, and low water-use appliances.
• Check for and repair leaky faucets and other leaks in the plumbing system.
• Take short showers.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving.

• Your septic system is not a trash can! Don’t put dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels, or other similar items in the system.
• Do not overuse the garbage disposal. It adds considerably more solids to the system. Consider composting kitchen waste instead.
• Do not put grease or oils down the drain. They can increase the scum layer in the septic tank.
• Do not dump unwanted pesticides, fertilizers, or insecticides down the drain. Take them to a household hazardous waste collection center instead.
• Do not dump paints, thinners, or solvents down the drain. Take them to a household hazardous waste collection center instead.
• Do not dump or flush excess medications down the drain. See Guidelines for Medication Disposal. 
• A septic system can handle typical amounts of cleaners used for routine cleaning, as well as normal amounts of anti-bacterial soaps. Do not overuse cleaning products, and do not dump excess cleaning products down the drain.
• Do not use septic system starters, additives, or feeders. They are unnecessary, and may actually cause more solids to flow into the drainfield, doing more harm than good!

• Do not connect “clear water” wastes, such as footing drains, roof drains, water softeners, or dehumidifiers to the septic system.
• Divert water from roofs, down spouts, or any other surface water runoff away from the area of the septic tank or drainfield.
• Do not add large amounts of water to the drainfield area by using underground sprinklers. Use a manually operated sprinkler only if it is necessary to maintain the grass cover.
• Fix all leaking toilets and fixtures immediately. A constant small flow to the system will significantly shorten its life.
• Do not drive vehicles or heavy equipment over the drainfield.
• Do not site dog kennels or other animal confinement units over the drainfield.
• Do not construct driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, patios, or buildings over the septic tank or drainfield.
• Maintain all required setback distances when adding buildings or other improvements to the property.
• Do not place additional soil over the drainfield, other than to fill slight depressions. A slight mounding will ensure runoff of surface water.
• Keep rodents and other burrowing animals out of the drainfield area.
• Do not plant trees or other deep-rooted plants on or near the drainfield.
• Do not plant a garden over the drainfield.
• Consider installing an effluent filter at the outlet of the septic tank to help prevent solids from flowing into the drainfield.
• Reserve a replacement drainfield area and manage it the same as the present drainfield.

For more information, please contact:

• Your Area Sanitarian (based on your Township)
• Department of Planning & Environment (734) 222-3800

Page Last Updated:  12/1/06