Mason County Public Health Septic System User Manual page 10

15. Do familiarize yourself with the location of your septic system and drainfield.
Contact the county Health Department for a copy of your records.
16. Do direct water from downspouts, roofs, streets, driveways, drains and
surface runoff away from drainfield. Additional water from these sources can
overload your system and prevent it from working properly.
17. Do direct all water away from the tank area. Water infiltration
into tanks is a major cause of drainfield overload.
18. Do keep cars and trucks, RV's, etc. off the septic
tank and drainfield areas. This prevents pipes
from breaking
compacted. Compacted soils can't absorb
water from the drainfield.
19. Do feel free to place a birdbath, potted plant or
other yard decoration on tank riser lids, as long as it can be
easily removed for access. Landscaping or permanent structures should be
planned around your septic system to ensure its components and functionality
isn't jeopardized.
20. Do keep all lids, ports, valve boxes, etc. easily accessible. You or your
contractor will have to get back to these components for monitoring and
maintenance.
21. Do plant grass and/or other shallow-rooted plants on your drainfield. Plants
such as grass can play a major role in disposing of household wastewater by
absorption and transpiration. But please, no shrubs or trees, as they have
larger root systems which could intrude in the drainfield and cause drainfield
pipe plugging.
22. Do keep irrigation or sprinkler systems at least 10 feet from drainfield. Extra
water can overload your system.
23. Do ensure the ground over your drainfield and tanks is higher than
surrounding areas and sloped to keep surface water from pooling.
24. Do make arrangements with a reliable service person to provide regular
monitoring and maintenance. See Section 3 for information on how often your
system components should be checked by yourself or a certified O&M
provider.
25. Do inspect your system annually. See page 21 for information on how often
your tank needs to be pumped. Regular pumping ensures that solids will not
and soil from
- 8 -
becoming