Your Septic System and the Importance of Water Conservation

It's estimated the average American uses approximately 88 gallons of water each year. In addition to being expensive, using too much water can have a terrible impact on the environment and your septic system. Using too much water throughout the day for several weeks or months on end can overload your septic system, which can be disastrous.

Here is some important information about water conservation and your septic system – including tips to help you reduce your water usage.

All the wastewater that you flush down the toilet, put down the kitchen sink, or that drains from your dishwasher and washing machine ends up in your septic tank. Once in the tank, the solids sink to the bottom and any oils and grease will naturally float to the top. The bacteria that is naturally found in the tank will break down the solids, which allows the wastewater to more easily drain into the leach field.

However, if you and your family are constantly introducing wastewater into the septic system, this natural settling of solids will not occur. Eventually, all that water will interfere with the natural bacterial processes that occur in the septic tank. This can lead to the septic tank backing up or the contents of the septic tank flooding your leach field and backyard.

In addition to creating a costly mess, once the wastewater floods your backyard, it could wind up polluting the groundwater. This will impact not only your drinking water but also the plant life and animals near your home. The best way to prevent this disaster from occurring is to learn how to conserve water throughout your home.

A perfect place to begin saving water is in your kitchen. Here are a few simple tips to help you stop overusing water in your kitchen:

• Avoid rinsing your dishes. Instead of running the water while you rinse off your dishes, scrape or wipe off any leftover food with a rag or paper towels. If you encounter any tough stains, soak the dishes in the sink rather than running water over them. 
  
• Quit using your garbage disposal. When you turn on your garbage disposal, you also turn on your faucet, which wastes a lot of water. On top of this, the food waste you put down your garbage disposal ends up in your septic tank. This can cause your tank to become clogged, which will lead to a backup.
  
• Use your cooking water twice. After you boil your pasta, instead of pouring the water down the drain, find another use for it. For example, you could let the water cool and use it to water your indoor plants. 
  
• Fill your dishwasher. When you're ready to do your dishes, make sure as much food waste as possible is scraped off and that you completely fill the dishwasher.
  

If your dishwasher is older, consider upgrading to a model that is more energy-efficient and has a water-conserving setting.

In addition to saving water in the kitchen, you can also conserve water in your bathroom. For example, set a timer while everyone in your family takes a shower to reduce your water usage. Make it a habit to turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth, and fill the sink with water to wash your face or shave.

Upgrade your toilet and showerhead to more high-efficiency models to dramatically cut down on the amount of water you use every day.

Conserving water throughout your home can help you save money and prevent your septic system from backing up or overflowing. If you have any more questions, contact Al's Septic Tank Service.