As more rural families choose country living, many are learning that maintaining a home means more than mowing the lawn or plowing the driveway. Septic systems are a critical part of rural infrastructure, but many homeowners don’t fully understand how they work — or the costly problems that can happen when they fail.
Damon Ferrier of Perth and District Septic Systems has some great tips in keeping your septic system in good health, starting with how often the main tank should be pumped out.
If your system uses the common weeping tile bed to disperse liquid waste under the soil, you need to know exactly where it’s located and where its perimeters extend to avoid anyone moving a heavy vehicle onto it.
Ferrier says pretty much any vehicle or conveyance with a tubed-tire should be kept off the bed because it’s likely too heavy
The soil nutrients that septic weeping beds release can be very attractive to plants near a weeping bed, Ferrier notes that some of those growths have a long reach.
The crew at Perth and District Septic Services note that some toilet paper brands can cause a lot of tank problems even though they may be labelled ‘septic-safe’.
An easy test is to put a few squares in a jar of water and then shake it. If it stays clumpy after a minute, it will be harder on a septic system, leading to more frequent pump-outs.
Story by Brian Turner
