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PROTECT DRINKING WATER BY SEPTIC SYSTEM CARE
In some communities three out of every four home septic systems are failing. When septic systems do not work properly, they cannot do their job in protecting drinking water from pollution. This puts private wells and public water supplies at risk. Safe drinking water is everyone's responsibility, so learn how to take actions to protect this vital resource.
"Flush and forget" is how many homeowners feel about their septic systems. But septic systems need your attention. Don't wait until sewage backs up in your house. Without proper care, these systems cannot prevent disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and pathogens from entering water used for drinking. They also cannot treat phosphorous and organic waste. More than water quality is at stake. When systems do not work, untreated discharges may pool in areas where children play.
The most important step in caring for your system is regular pumping of the septic tank (where the solids in your household sewage settle). If you allow sludge to build up, it can clog the drain field, the part of the system that filters the waste water. The cost of pumping ($100-$250) is far less than the cost of fixing a clogged drain field ($2,000-$8,000).
Annual inspections can help you decide when to pump and also uncover potential problems with your system. Never crawl or lean inside a septic tank without proper ventilation and safety procedures.
Septic systems do not last forever. As systems get older (over 20 years old), you can expect problems that routine care may not fix. Be alert for these signs of trouble: foul odors in the house and yard, drains that back up, wet or spongy soil in your drain field, repeated stomach illness, excessive weeds or algae in nearby ponds.
Inside your home, you can do things to help your system run better. Don't dump solvents, paint, or other chemicals down the drain. Conserving water by using low-flow shower heads reduces the load on the system.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you are doing your part to protect everyone's drinking water.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are ready to learn about actions to avoid problems. Even if you answered "no" to each question, you may still have room for improvement. Do you compost kitchen waste instead of using a garbage disposal?
What can you do?
Home*A*Syst can help you take action. Based on the concept of a home energy audit, Home*A*Syst is a tool that non-experts can use to identify a range of environmental and health risks in and around the home. In addition to septic system management, Home*A*Syst enables you to reduce a range of risks from activities outside the home— lawn and garden care, handling household hazardous products, and private well maintenance— and inside the home— unhealthy indoor air, and lead exposure in water pipes and paint.
By using Home*A*Syst, you can develop a plan filled with simple and low-cost actions that can go a long way in preventing problems. Armed with information, you can take steps to transform your house into a healthy home, where family health is safeguarded and property value is protected.
For information about the Home*A*Syst program in your state, you can locate a local program coordinator by visiting the Home*A*Syst web site, http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst. You may also contact the national Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst office at 303 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1289, 608-262-0024, email: homeasyst@uwex.edu. These groups also may have program information: local county Extension office, Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservationist or state water quality agency.