Septic system maintenance is being promoted with the Environmental Protection Agency’s third annual SepticSmart Week.
They say nearly a quarter of American homes depend on septic systems, and that means knowing how to properly care for them goes a long way in protecting public health. If a system isn’t properly maintained, back-ups and overflows can lead not only to expensive repairs, but also polluted waterways and risks to public health as well as the environment.
They say there are a few simple steps homeowners can take to prevent problems from happening, such as avoiding pouring fats, greases, and solids down the drain, spreading out dishwater and laundry loads to avoid overloading the system, and fixing plumbing leaks. You should also never drive or park on a system’s absorption field, since the vehicle’s weight could disrupt the system. They also recommend having your system inspected every three years by a licensed contractor and having tanks pumped at least every five years.
You can find more information about septic systems on the Indiana State Department of Health’s website.
