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Your Septic System - A Reference Guide
Maintaining Your Septic System |
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Eliminating unnecessary sources of surface water will help maximize your
septic system's life. The disposal field is designed to treat a specific
amount of wastewater each day. This is based on the number of bedrooms in
the home and the number of occupants. Check to see if water from eaves
trough, grass watering, plowed snow, parking lot drains or other sources
is not draining on top of your septic field. An one inch rainfall will add
27,145 gallons of water to one acre of ground. The runoff from your roof
can be as much as 400 gallons. There should be no need to water or
fertilize the septic field. |
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Household water conservation will reduce the strain on
the sewage disposal system and prolong it's life. Leaky toilets, faucets,
and extended showers can easily tax the system beyond it's limits. Water
softener recharge water can be diverted to a separate disposal area since
it is not wastewater. Laundry can be spread out over several days to
minimize the daily surge of wastewater to the system. Low flow shower
heads and faucet aerators, along with low capacity toilet tanks can help
lower the amount of wastewater a system needs to handle. |
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Landscaping the septic field should merely be grass or small vegetation.
Large bushes or trees will clog the system's piping with roots. Grass will
take up some moisture, as well as nutrients from the field. Never pave
over a field, nor park heavy vehicles or machinery on top the system. |
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Shoreline residents need to pay particular attention to their wastewater
disposal system due to the unique situation they have. Often, the soils
around lakes and streams are not as well suited to sewage disposal as
upland sites are. The disposal system should be situated as far away as
possible from surface water (100 feet as per the Sanitary Code). Water
conservation practices are especially important for these residents. The
saturated soils encountered near lakes and streams will facilitate the
movement of nutrients and contaminants toward the surface water. Many
times, the system will appear to be working fine, but in reality, may well
be leaking contaminants into the lake, pond, or stream. Look for signs
such as excessive weed growth in isolated areas, an increase in infections
or illnesses from swimmers, or unpleasant odors near the shoreline. |
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