Top Tips To Maintain Your Septic System Properly

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news April 9, 2021

Most homes are connected to the mains sewer system in their town. However, if you live rurally you may find that you’re not connected to the main drains and there is no plan to connect you. Put simply, it’s expensive to lay miles of pipes for just one house!

The alternative is to have a septic system. There are currently around 1.4 million homes in Australia using septic systems.

What Is A Septic System?

Instead of being connected to the mains drains, your wastewater pipes are connected to a large tank. As the water enters the tank it is allowed to settle. Solid waste products sink to the bottom and decompose over time. The water moves through the various chambers and filters inside the septic system to create clean water that can then be runoff into local fields.

An efficient system will ensure that your sewage doesn’t create any hazard to the local environment. Most of the time the system looks after itself. However, it is useful to know how to maintain your septic system and to have the number of a good emergency plumber, just in case you need any help.

Watch Your Drains

The most important part of maintaining a septic system is what goes down your drains. Wastewater is treated, waste products biodegrade over time. But, wet wipes, sanitary products, and other foreign objects don’t. They can clog up the pipes on the way to the septic tank or simply increase the volume of solid waste and the frequency at which your tank will be replaced.

You should also note that the ecosystem inside your septic tank is surprisingly fragile, pouring chemicals down your wastepipes will kill the helpful bacteria. This prevents them from decomposing the solid waste and is going to create issues in your septic system.

In short, only human waste and toilet paper should go down the pipes to the septic tank.

Visually Inspect Your Tank

You should have two inspection hatches on your septic system. It’s a good idea to lift them and inspect the tank regularly, you’ll know if something doesn’t look right and can contact your plumber.

Remember to keep the lids closed securely the rest of the time, you don’t want an accident happening.

Empty It

Even the best septic tank will need pumping eventually to remove the sludge at the bottom of the tank. It’s usually done every 3-5 years. Make a note of when your tank should be emptied and make sure this is done regularly.

Direct Your Rainwater

Rainwater is usually directed away from your roof through gutters and drains. It’s important to ensure these are clear and that they don’t direct water to any filter bed you have installed Adding rainwater to the bed will make it difficult for the septic system to work properly.

Keep Vehicles Away

You shouldn’t park cars on your septic tank or where the filtration system is. The weight of a vehicle can damage the install and the effectiveness of your septic system.

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