Table of Contents
Advertisement
25. Don't drive over your tank or any buried pipes. If your system is near a
traffic area, put up a fence, hedge, or other barricade to prevent damage.
26. Don't repair without permits. Any short-term savings could be offset by
having the wrong thing repaired or by legal entanglements.
27. Don't cover filters or drainfields with impermeable materials such as
plastic sheeting, concrete, asphalt, above-ground swimming pools, etc.
This prevents the bacteria that break down and purify the sewage from
getting the oxygen the need.
28. Don't raise or lower the level of the ground over filters or drainfield areas.
Adding soil decreases your systems ability to breathe.
29. Don't drain hot tubs, waterbeds or other large amounts of water into the
system. Large volumes of water are harmful to the system, and the
chlorine can destroy important bacteria in the system. Drain hot tubs onto
the ground, away from the drainfield but not into a storm drain.
30. Don't connect rain gutters or storm drains to
your septic system, or allow surface water to
drain into it.
31. Don't dump recreational vehicle (RV)
waste into your septic tank. The
system is designed for your residence
flow and may not be able to handle
the extra load. RV waste may also
contain chemicals that are toxic or
that may hamper the biological activity
in your system.
32. Don't build, place sidewalks, or pave over
your drainfield or reserve areas. This causes
compaction of the soil, and prevents oxygen from reaching the drainfield.
Compaction destroys the soils ability to absorb wastewater.
33. Don't turn off electricity to the septic system pumps when going on
vacation. If there is any leak or flow into the system, the pump will need to
run or sewage could back up into the house or on the ground.
34. Don't reset timers or other system controls. A certified professional is the
only person who should be altering your system settings. If you're having
problems, call a professional, don't fumble around for a fix – chances are
you may be making it worse.
- 12 -
Advertisement
Table of Contents
