Septic System Tips You are here: House & Home • Septic System Tips Septic System Tips The following information is from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your septic system, contact: Department of Environment - (902) 424-7773 1595 Bedford Highway • Suite 224 • Sunnyside Mall Bedford • NS • B4A 3Y4 Design, selection, construction, and ownership of an on-site sewage disposal system are governed by the Environment Act and the On-site Sewage Disposal Regulations. Once the system is completed, the homeowner is responsible for care and maintenance. Proper use and regular maintenance are the keys to long-term satisfactory performance of an on-site system. Most failures are due to poor maintenance, or to improper use of the system by the owner - what goes in it, and what goes over it! Some do's and don'ts are shown below. If you keep these in mind, your on-site system should provide good service for a long time. Make sure that you record any repairs and maintenance work carried out on your system. This information is invaluable for future dealings with a contractor, a government agency, or a future purchaser of your home. Septic System Do's Do spread automatic washer use over the week rather than many loads on one day. Do make a permanent record of where the key parts of your system are located for future maintenance, such as tank pump outs or field repairs. Do have your septic tank pumped out regularly. Do keep records of pump outs and maintenance. Do use water conserving devices where possible. Low flush toilets and shower heads are commonly available. Do have manually cleaned lint traps on your automatic washer. Do check any pumps, siphons, or other moving parts of your system regularly. Do remove or prevent trees with large root systems growing near the disposal field. Do maintain a healthy grass cover over the disposal field to use some of the water and to prevent erosion. Do keep surface water from upslope or from roof drains away from the disposal field. Do check your interceptor drain regularly to ensure that it is free-flowing. Do compost your kitchen waste or include it in your garbage. A garbage grinder should be installed only when the septic tank is oversized, and the tank will need to be pumped more often. Septic System Dont's Don't overload the system with high volumes of water. Don't connect basement sump pumps to the on-site system. Don't connect backwash from water treatment devices directly to the on-site system without professional advice. Don't allow large amounts of fats, chemicals, or solvents to enter the system; don't allow any plastics to enter. Don't use septic tank additives. They are not beneficial, and may damage your disposal system. Active bacteria are naturally present in sewage. Even with additives, regular pumping of solids is still required. Don't enter a septic tank without proper ventilation, a second person (adult) above ground, and other requirements of the Department of Labour for confined spaces. Sewer gases can be fatal. Don't allow vehicles or heavy equipment to drive over or park on the disposal field. This may compact the soil and crush the piping. Don't plant anything over the disposal field except grass; especially, don't cover the tank or field with asphalt or concrete or other impermeable material. Don't put in a separate pipe to carry wash waters to a side ditch or woods. These 'greywaters' also contain disease carrying organisms. Don't wait for signs of failure. Check the system regularly. Don't flush:    • coffee grounds • dental floss • paints • disposable diapers    • kitty litter • varnishes • sanitary napkins • tampons • waste oils    • cigarette butts • condoms • poisons • fats • grease and oils    • paper towels • thinners • disinfectants • pesticides    • photographic chemicals • other chemical wastes For more details, visit the Department of Environment website by CLICKING HERE.				Quick jump to any topic!------------------------------------- Home Advertise With Us Boating & MarineBuy & Sell ClubsContactGolf ClubsHouse & HomeOld NewsPets & WildlifeReal EstateResident AssociationSchool NewsService Providers Sports & FitnessSubdivisionsTravel Club Bottled Water Suppliers Septic Contractors Septic Disposal Water Testing Analysis Water Treatment Well Drilling Better Homes and Gardens BobVila.com Complete Home Maintenance Center (CMCH) Do It Yourself Network Hometime   The Septic System Owner's Manual  by Lloyd Kahn

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