Managing Your Household Septic System

Abstract

Onsite/septic system owners need information on how septic systems work, how to maintain them, and precautions to take to decrease the potential for the septic system to contaminate groundwater or surface water. Operation and maintenance of the system are the owner’s responsibility. This fact sheet discusses steps you can take to manage your septic system. Both the septic tank and the soil treatment area (also known as a leachfield or absorption field) must be properly maintained to protect human health and the environment. A properly maintained system should work correctly for many years. The effectiveness of a septic system depends on how the homeowner uses and operates the system. Managing a household septic system requires that you control the volume and quality of wastewater and maintain the septic tank and soil treatment area.