Frequently Asked Questions How do you take care of your onsite system? Your onsite treatment system represents a significant investment, which you will want to protect. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" was never more true than it is with onsite system care. With proper operation and regular maintenance, your system will function much better and last longer. In addition, hazardous household chemicals like paints, varnishes, waste oils, and pesticides pollute the groundwater and should never be disposed of through a septic system. They can also kill the microorganisms in the system that break down the waste. By educating everyone in your household about what is and is not good for septic systems, they can begin to develop good maintenance habits. In a typical household, most of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom and there are a lot of little things that can be done to conserve water there. For example, try to avoid letting water run while washing hands and brushing teeth. Avoid taking long showers and install water-saving features in faucets and shower heads. These devices can reduce water use by up to 50 percent. Low-flush toilets use one to two gallons per flush compared to the three to five gallons used by conventional toilets. Even using a toilet dam or putting a container filled with rocks in the toilet tank can reduce water use by 25 percent. It is also important to avoid overtaxing your system by using a lot of water in a short time period, or by allowing too much outside water to reach the drainfield. Try to space out activities requiring heavy water use (like laundry) over several days. Also, divert roof drains, surface water, and sump pumps away from the drainage field. Return to FAQ's