Preventative Care and Maintenance

Water Use

Minimize the amount of water used in the household. Excessive use of water could flush solids from the septic tank to the leaching bed which would lead to clogging or plugging of the leaching bed pipes.

Each person in Ontario uses about 300 litres (66 gal) of water a day, the majority of which is used in washrooms by toilets, sinks, showers and baths. Approximately 45% is used for toilet flushing, 30% for bathing, 20% for dish washing and laundry, and 5% for cooking.

Water usage in the home should be kept to a minimum to avoid exceeding the capacity of the septic tank system. If automatic washers and dishwashers are used, make sure full loads are washed each time and stagger their use to reduce peak flows. Retrofitting existing toilets to use less water will also ease the stress on the septic tank and the water supply systems.

Direct all surface waters, pumps, and roof drains away from the leaching bed. This includes the lawn sprinkler.

Chemical Contamination

Moderate use of household drain solvents, cleaners, disinfectants, etc., should not interfere with the operation of the septic tank system; however, indiscriminate use may cause problems.

Do not discharge water softener waste water into the septic tank, unless the system was designed for the extra capacity. Not only does the extra water decrease the capacity of your system, the added salts may lead to a failure of the leaching bed. Water softener waste water should be directed to a leaching pit.

The use of garbage grinders is discouraged as sludge accumulation in the septic tank can be increased by up to 40%. The tank will then have to be pumped annually.

Do not dispose of fuels, grease, paints, thinners, weed or insect killers, cigarette butts, condoms, paper towels, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc., into the septic tank system. A septic tank system can only handle bio-degradable items.

There should be no need to use commercial "starters," "bacterial feeds," or "cleaners." Bacteria in a septic tank system occurs naturally.

Leaching Bed

The area over a leaching bed should have a good grass cover, but should not be planted with trees or shrubs. Tree and shrub roots will seek out nutrient-rich leaching bed tiles and eventually plug them. It is important not to add excessive amounts of solid (more than 0.3 metres) to the top of the leaching bed, as this may prevent evapo-transpiration and reduce oxygen transfer to the bed.

Structures such as patios, pools, sundecks and toolsheds must not be erected over or near the leaching bed.

Keep all vehicles including snowmobiles off the leaching bed. Any compaction of the soil reduces leaching bed performance. Crushed leaching bed pipes can cause backups into your home.

Good ventilation and adequate sunlight should be maintained in the area of the leaching bed.

Repair Maintenance

The septic tank should be inspected at least once every two years and the tank pumped out by a licensed contractor every three or four years. Check the local telephone book yellow pages under "Septic Tanks" for a licensed contractor near you. Regular pumping of the septic tank is the best preventative maintenance you can do and well worth the investment.

Warning: Under no circumstances should a home owner enter a septic tank. Noxious gases which are heavier than air remain in the tank after the top is removed and have caused death both to the original victim and to those who attempt to rescue him/her from the tank.

Summary

A septic tank and leaching bed should, with proper care and maintenance, provide many years of service. However, the homeowner must take an active role in ensuring the system functions properly.

Septic Tank Maintenance Record

Date	Nature of work (pumped out, general inspection, remedial work (specify)	Name of company and person carrying out the work of inspection

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/93-081.htm