Planning official: Septic systems too easy to ignore

Being out of sight is a septic system's greatest strength -- but also its greatest weakness.

Because rural property owners don't see it, it's easy to forget or ignore, Larry Walrod, Franklin County planning director, said.

However, rural septic systems require maintenance and some care in operation.

According to Walrod and the Extension Service here are some things to keep in mind:

• Monitor water use and make sure it stays within the design ranges of the septic systems. High water use can overwhelm systems, making them more ineffective and even causing them to fail.

  Although some publications urge homeowners to divert washing machine water away from the septic systems, other publications say it's OK as long as the family doesn't try to do a week's worth of laundry in one day and as long as there are lint filters in the machine.

• Don't use garbage disposals or otherwise needlessly add other solids as coffee grounds, hair, dental floss, disposable diapers, kitty litter or paper towels.

  Avoid dumping cooking fats, grease or heavy doses of housecleaning chemicals into the plumbing.

• In the case of septic tanks with laterals, avoid driving cars and other heavy vehicles over those areas where the laterals are.

  Nor should those areas be paved or covered with concrete.

  Diverting rain drain water from the area is a good idea, as well.

• In the case of lagoons, keep the fence around it in good repair -- young children have drowned in lagoons -- and mow the berms and area around it frequently.

  Make sure that cattails and other vegetation don't grown in the lagoon.

• Cut down trees or shrubs in or near the laterals area or near the lagoon.

• Pump out septic tanks on a regular rotation -- three to five years. the light goes on," Walrod said. "Then they learn to adjust."