4)
Maintaining Your Bloo Septic Tank and Septic System in
Top Health
A properly planned and installed septic system can substantially reduce your maintenance costs. The
following tips will help you conserve resources, reduce expenses and limit pollution:
Use household detergents and bleaches sensibly. Only put bio-degradable
products into your tank.
•
If possible, use low-phosphorus or phosphorus-free detergents. Instead, use baking soda,
vinegar, a mild soap solution or green-safe/septic-safe cleaning products. If you have
questions about the safety of any household product, consult the product manufacturer.
•
Install a lint filter on your washing machine (this can simply be a stocking over the outlet
hose). This will extend the life of your trench and avoid blockages.
•
Do not dispose of chemicals, pesticides or other dangerous or non-natural items in your
system. These products can cause the tank to malfunction and can pollute groundwater.
•
Do not pour fats or oils down the sink. These can solidify, block the system and build up in
the tank. Instead, put small amounts in the compost or into a separate container with the
rubbish.
•
Use a sink strainer to prevent food particles from getting into the septic system. Food scraps
can slow down the digestion process and make solids build up more quickly (meaning more
frequent pump-outs).
•
If you need to clean a pipe or drain, instead of caustic soda or drain cleaners, use boiling
water or a drain eel to clear a blocked line.
•
Do not flush things down the toilet that could clog the system, such as personal hygiene
items, paper towels, grease, plastics or cat litter.
Reduce and monitor the amount of water entering the system
–
the slower
the through-flow of wastewater, the greater the treatment activity within
the tank.
•
Divert roof water away from the effluent disposal area and make sure that water from roof
downpipes does not enter the septic treatment system.
•
Check plumbing fixtures regularly for leaks and immediately repair any problems.
•
Avoid large flows of water into the system at once, for example operate your dishwasher
and washing machine at different times and spread large washing loads over several days.
•
Install water-saving devices such as low-flow shower heads and dual flush toilet cisterns.
•
Don’t leave taps running
unnecessarily (e.g., when cleaning teeth)
•
If the terrain slopes down to your absorption trench, install a stormwater diversion trench to
ensure that surface water is diverted around the soakage area.
Protect your septic tank and disposal area from
damage
•
Prevent vehicles driving over the tank and soakage area, which could cause damage and
result in expensive repairs. Do not install tanks in driveways or other areas where vehicles
operate, unless the system has been specifically engineered to handle the vehicular
loadings.
•
Avoid digging, harrowing, or other soil disturbances in the absorption field area.
