Want To Help The Environment?
Start Small... Service Your Septic
I
t can be overwhelming to be green. Sometimes it feels like the problems
our environment faces are so big that one individual can’t make a difference. Crisis like mountaintop removal in the mid-Atlantic and the oil crisis in Louisiana are discouraging because these problems seem too big for one person to affect change. But there are small things we can do right on our own land to protect our earth. One of the most important things we can do is take care of our septic systems, which protects our groundwater and our community. A septic system is a ma-
chine that is constantly working. We need to remind ourselves that our sep- tic system is a utility and it needs to be maintained. Because it is buried in the yard, it is often out of sight and out of mind. For those of you who have expe- rienced a malfunctioning septic system, you know that it can make itself known in the most disgusting manner. If you care for your septic system, it can serve
you and the environment for 20 to 30 years!
Preventing groundwater pollution
should be a priority for all homeown- ers and it is the homeowner’s respon- sibility to maintain their septic system. Waste from a septic system can migrate into our bodies of water and disrupt the entire eco-system in our own commu- nities. Furthermore, when a septic sys-
tem fails, inadequately treated waste can reach our ground- water and the bacteria from human waste can cause dys- entery, hepatitis, typhoid fever and other ailments. People die every year from contami- nated water and this can be prevented if we take responsi- bility for what we are putting into our septic systems and the groundwater. Most people do not know
how a septic system functions. When a good septic system fails, it isn’t the tank that fails; it is the soil that fails. The soil fails because liquid can’t pass through. Liquid can’t pass through soil if it is clogged
with solids. So, to care for your septic system, you need to monitor the amount of solids that enter your system. In addi- tion, you need to monitor the household chemicals that enter your system. You also need to monitor what is growing on and around your system. It is important to pay attention to
what solids enter your septic system. Sanitary napkins, tampons and condoms should never be flushed into your sys- tem. Other solids that should not be sent into your system are food scraps. If you have a septic system it is recommended that you do not use a garbage disposal. If you have a garbage disposal, you need to have your septic tank cleaned more often because there will be more solids in your system. Other solids that should not enter your system are grease, cook- ing oils, coffee grinds, diapers or kitty lit- ter. Excessive water use is also not good for your system because high volumes of water can flood your system. So instead of doing 10 to 15 loads of laundry on a
32
June 2010
www.naturalnutmeg.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56