September 23-27 is SepticSmart Week!

Please help promote the first annual SepticSmart Week on September 23-27 to encourage homeowners to get SepticSmart and take action. Proper care and maintenance of septic systems can help keep homeowners and their neighbors healthy and protect their drinking water and the environment. For homeowners, proper care can also prevent costly repairs or replacement of systems, protect property values, and save water.

EPA has compiled a variety of materials and messages on its web site at www.epa.gov/septicsmart that serves as an online resource for state drinking water programs, industry practitioners, local governments, and community organizations to help educate their clients and residents. While EPA’s SepticSmart program promotes proper septic system care and maintenance all year long, this special week was designated to enhance the promotion of homeowner education about periodic septic system maintenance and proper daily system use.  Following are some of the SepticSmart tips you may share through your networks:

• Protect It and Inspect It: In general, homeowners should have their system inspected every three years by a licensed contractor and have their tank pumped when necessary, generally every three to five years.
• Think at the Sink: Avoid pouring fats, grease, and solids down the drain, which can clog a system’s pipes and drainfield.
• Don’t Overload the Commode: Ask guests to only to put things in the drain or toilet that belong there. For example, coffee grounds, dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, and cat litter can all clog and potentially damage septic systems.
• Don’t Strain Your Drain: Be water efficient and spread out water use. Consider fixing plumbing leaks and installing faucet aerators and water-efficient products, and spread out laundry and dishwasher loads throughout the day.  Too much water at once can overload a system if it hasn’t been pumped recently.
• Shield Your Field: Remind guests not to park or drive on a system’s drainfield, where the vehicle’s weight could damage buried pipes or disrupt underground flow.