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  1. Pump your septic tank every two to five years, depending on how heavily the system is used.
  2. Garbage grinders are NOT recommended. If you do use a garbage grinder (a.k.a. “dispose-all”), pump your tank EVERY YEAR and have the pumper clean the outlet filter, if there is one. Garbage grinder use leads to buildups of grease, insoluble vegetable matter, and excess solid particles, which can clog the system.
  3. Do NOT drive any vehicle over your leach-field or septic tank (unless your system is specifically designed to handle a vehicular load).
  4. Keep kitchen grease, such as bacon fat and deep fryer oil, out of your septic system. It is not broken down easily by your system and can clog your drain field.
  5. Space out laundry loads over the course of the week and wash only full loads. One load per day rather than 7 loads on Saturday makes a big difference to your septic system.
  6. Install low usage water fixtures and fix any plumbing leaks.
  7. Minimize the amount of household cleaners (bleach, harsh cleaners) and similar potentially toxic substances entering the septic system. Note: some substances are not allowed to be introduced into septic systems or groundwater tables. If in doubt, contact your Local Plumbing Inspector or the Division for more information.
  8. Do not use disinfecting automatic toilet bowl cleaners, such as those containing bleach or acid compounds. The continuous slow release of these chemicals into the septic system kills the microorganisms which treat your waste water.
  9. You do not need to put special additives into your septic system. In fact, some can do more harm than good. Also, although it hurts nothing, it is not necessary to “seed” a new system with yeast, horse manure, and so forth. Normal human waste contains enough bacteria for the septic tank, and other microbes are already present in the soil and stones of the disposal area.