KEEPING IT LOCAL

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Do Your Part, Be SepticSmart!

“In small towns and rural communities across the country, septic systems are essential to safely managing wastewater. Being ‘SepticSmart’ helps keep these systems maintained to safeguard our families and neighbors from the health risks associated with exposure to untreated wastewater,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott.

EPA and its partners are making educational resources available to homeowners, local organizations, and government leaders to explain how septic systems work and how to properly maintain them. Maintaining septic systems is critical to protecting public health and ecosystems in small and rural towns across the country. By being SepticSmart, homeowners can also avoid thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs, while protecting local water quality.

EPA encourages organizations and individuals to create public awareness and share helpful tips, such as:

• Think at the Sink! What goes down the drain has a big impact on your septic system. Fats, grease, and solids can clog a system’s pipes and drain field.
• Don’t Overload the Commode! A toilet is not a trash can. Disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, and cat litter can damage a septic system.
• Don’t Strain Your Drain! Use water efficiently and stagger use of water-based appliances. Too much water use at once can overload a system that hasn’t been pumped recently.
• Shield Your Field! Tree and shrub roots, cars, and livestock can damage your septic drain field.
• Keep It Clean! Contamination can occur when a septic system leaks from improper maintenance. Be sure your drinking water is safe to drink by testing it regularly.
• Protect It and Inspect It! Regular septic system maintenance can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs, and it protects public health.
• Pump Your Tank! Ensure your septic tank is pumped at regular intervals as recommended by a professional and/or local permitting authority.

Background

More than one-fifth of U.S. households use an individual onsite (septic) system or small community cluster septic system to treat their wastewater. These systems treat and dispose of relatively small volumes of wastewater and include a wide range of individual and cluster treatment options to process household and commercial sewage. These systems go by such names as septic, decentralized wastewater treatment, cluster, package plants, on-lot, individual sewage disposal, and private sewage. Onsite systems provide a cost-effective, long-term option for treating wastewater, particularly in sparsely populated areas. When properly installed, operated, and maintained, these systems help protect public health, preserve valuable water resources, and maintain a community’s economic vitality.