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Households that do not have access to public sewers usually depend on Septic systems to treat and get rid of wastewater. Septic systems are important for maintaining a clean environment. Damage to your septic system can pollute the soil in your yard, cause bad odor around the house and can also result in spread of serious diseases. Therefore it is important to make sure that your septic system is well serviced.

Knowing how to keep the septic system well-maintained is important as that helps you to avoid putting too much pressure on it in the first place. For that reason, in this article we explain five measures you can take to keep your septic system well-maintained.

Understanding the System

To keep the Septic System well-maintained, users first have to understand the different parts of the system, how do they function and how do they combine to treat wastewater.

All of the wastewater from your house first goes to an underground container called the Septic Tank. It is a large, watertight tank which stores and decomposed the solid waste and lets the liquid waste to move onward to the drainfield.

Drainfield is also located underground. It is a network of pipes that discharges the wastewater out. Wastewater passes through a sheet of gravel and soil to get further filtered and eventually ends up in groundwater.

Conserving Water

Since the underground septic tank has a limited amount of space, it can only hold so much water at a time. According to EPA, a typical household uses around 70 gallons per individual, per day. And septic tanks are constructed keeping that fact in mind.

Using too much of water can cause the tank to overflow, and clog the drainage pipes. You can install better working bathroom appliances such as high-efficient shower heads, faucets and toilets can help conserve water. Instilling water efficiency practices at your home would not only be better for the environment but would also help your septic system perform better.

Pumping Regularly

It is very important to pump out the solid waste from your septic tank before it overflows. Otherwise the solid waste could surface out in your yard. It could also cause the pipes in the drainage system to clog. The frequency with which you need to pump out solid waste depends on your use of water and the size of the tank. Average rates of pumping vary from 3 to 5 years.

Avoid Flushing Chemicals in the System

Avoid household chemicals, paper towels, paint, grease, bleach etc down the drain. Such chemicals are made up of highly toxic salts that disrupt the natural bacterial action necessary for wastewater treatment.

Good Maintenance around the Tank

Avoid growing trees and shrubs near tank and drainfield. Keep the area around it clear of roots; the roots of trees can block the pores of the pipes in drain field and create cracks in walls of the tank.