Septic Systems DO’S AND DONT’S
- Do have a licensed professional maintain your system
- Do keep accurate records of system maintenance
- Do repair leaking plumbing fixtures
- Do spread out laundry loads over several days
- Do minimize the use of bleach, including detergents with bleach
- Do minimize the rinsing of oils, fats and grease down the drain
- Do limit the use of anti-bacterial and disinfectant products
- Do divert water away from the tanks and disposal area
- Do call your maintenance professional if there is an alarm
- Don’t flush hazardous chemicals (paints, cleaners and pesticides)
- Don’t flush cigarette butts or sanitary products
- Don’t use a garbage grinder
- Don’t plant trees or shrubs near tanks or disposal area
- Don’t dig without knowing the exact location of your system components
- Don’t drive or park on system components
- Don’t connect sump pumps, foundation drains or downspouts to your septic system
- Don’t connect water softener backwash to your system
- Don’t ignore alarms or alarm lights
Maintenance Agreement and Performance Criteria
As per the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) General, Remedial and Provisional Use Approvals for the Waterloo Biofilter™ there must be a maintenance agreement in force for the life of the system. The system must be inspected and maintained by a Massachusetts certified wastewater treatment plant operator Grade 2 or higher. The following is a summary of the inspection and effluent testing requirements for General, Remedial and Provisional Use.
General Use
The Waterloo Biofilter must be inspected at a minimum of once per year and field tests for pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Turbidity must be performed on the system effluent. If system effluent does not pass the field tests a sample be must be analyzed in a certified laboratory for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Effluent quality must be below 30 mg/L BOD and 30 mg/L TSS.
Remedial Use
Waterloo Biofiltery systems servicing single family homes with design flows less than 2,000 gpd must be inspected and field tested (pH, DO and Turbidity) twice per year. If field tests fail, a sample must be analyzed by a laboraroty for BOD and TSS and be below 30 mg/L for both parameters.
Commerical systems and residential systems with design flows greater than 2,000 god are required to have quarterly inspections and sampling. All effluent samples are to be analyzed in a laboratory for pH, BOD and TSS and meet the 30 mg/L limit.
Provisional Use (Nitrogen Removal)
Systems used for Nitrogen reduction require additional quarterly sampling for Total Nitrogen (TN) and Alkalinity. TN results must be <19 mg/L. Nitrogen reducing systems treating flows larger than 2,000 gpd must be sampled monthly and treat to <25 mg/L. The state can be petitioned to reduce sampling after 2 years for smaller systems and after 3 years for systems treating flows larger than 2,000 gpd.
Quarterly inspection and maintenance reports along with sampling results must be filed with the Massachusetts DEP and the local board of health.