Toilets backing up
Clogged drains
Foul odors around the septic tank and drainfield
Wastewater surfacing around the drainfield
Algae growth on rocks near the shoreline
Inspect the tank every two years for sludge level
Pump the tank when the sludge level exceeds 1/3 of the volume.
Use year-round will necessitate more frequent pumpings than seasonal use.
Avoid using chemicals such as drain cleaners and bleach because they kill the bacteria which break down the sludge.
Do not put the following items down the drain: grease, hair, cigarette butts, facial tissue, paper towells, band-aids, paint, solvents, motor oil, etc.
Be wary of commercial products that claim to clean septic tanks.
Direct rainwater from gutters away from drainfield.
Never build or pave over a drainfield.
Keep vehicles away from the drainfield and septic tank.
Do not fertilize around a drainfield because the nutrients saturate the soil and cause it to stop absorbing nutrients from the waste water.
Plant a natural strip of woody vegetation along the shoreline to intercept and utilize nutrients. This greenbelt is also important for stopping erosion and filtering of surface runoff.
Source: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council