(Ithaca, N.Y. September 19, 2023) – Tompkins County Whole Health and the Division of Environmental Health (EH) want to recognize SepticSmart week. The week of September 18-22 marks the 11th anniversary of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s SepticSmart week, a chance for the EPA and EH to remind homeowners that your septic system is just like any other part of your home. For it to function properly, and to get the most life from it, your system must be cared for and maintained properly.
Your septic system, or onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), is typically made up of 3 main components: a septic tank, a distribution box, and an absorption field. The septic tank is designed to let solids settle to the bottom, oils float to the top, and partially treated wastewater to flow out to the distribution box, which allows this wastewater to be split into different pipes to spread the wastewater out through an absorption field, commonly called a leach field. The wastewater can then soak into the soil where natural processes will remove excess nutrients and harmful bacteria and viruses. The average lifespan of a system is fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years, but this can be significantly reduced if it is not used and maintained properly.
To get the most life and functionality from your septic system, it is recommended you get your septic tank pumped by a licensed hauler every 3-5 years. EH and the EPA also recommend the following:
- Shield your field:
- Protect your system from external damage by:
- Only allowing shallow rooted plants and grasses to grow near your system. Deep roots from trees and other plants can damage your tank or plug the pipes of the absorption field.
- Not driving or building a driveway or other structure over your system.
- Protect your system from external damage by:
- Think at the sink:
- Be mindful of what is going down your drain and the impact it can have on your system. A few things to consider:
- Don’t pour harsh, toxic chemicals down the drain. These can kill the organisms that are breaking down the waste in your septic tank.
- Keep oils and greases from going down the drain. If these build up in the septic tank they can leak out into the absorption field, plugging the soils and preventing them from filtering the water appropriately.
- Dispose of that garbage disposal and discard food scraps into the garbage or the compost. Using a garbage disposal puts more fats and oils into your system, along with more solids that can fill your septic tank more quickly, requiring more frequent pumping.
- Be mindful of what is going down your drain and the impact it can have on your system. A few things to consider:
- Don’t overload the commode:
- Flushing solids, other than those that are supposed to go into your septic system, can clog and damage your system. Be sure to not flush items such as:
- Diapers.
- Menstrual/period products.
- Condoms.
- Coffee grounds.
- Cat litter.
- Flushing solids, other than those that are supposed to go into your septic system, can clog and damage your system. Be sure to not flush items such as:
- Don’t strain your drain:
- Using less water puts less strain on your absorption field. Some ways to do this are to:
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.
- Repair leaky fixtures.
- Use high efficiency toilets and faucets.
- Using less water puts less strain on your absorption field. Some ways to do this are to:
For more information on onsite wastewater treatment systems, visit EH’s webpage at: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh/owts. For more on septic system maintenance, go to: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh/owts/maintenance.
Tompkins County Whole Health (formerly the Tompkins County Health Department) envisions a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TompkinsWholeHealth and on Twitter at @TCWholeHealth. Get Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text, sign up here.
Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org
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