Helpful Home Tips
Sewer and Septic Tips
Recycling graywater is by far the most valuable green plumbing tactic. Everyday households across America flush and drain thousands of gallons of water that could be recycled for alternative uses. This blog post highlights various techniques that homeowners can implement in order to reuse their gray water and as a result, they can save the planet and money at the same time.
Graywater is a plumbing industry term that refers to all types of water that are no longer potable and are flushed down sinks, showers and laundry facilities. The term gray implies that the water is no longer clean; however, it is not “wastewater.” While this water is no longer considered safe or desirable for human consumption, it can be used for other purposes around the house.
Below are some examples for wastewater reuse:
Watering the Garden
Vehicle Cleaning
In your Toilet
Irrigation
As a homeowner there are various ways that you can implement a system that saves and recycles your graywater. If you are a homeowner and are interested in green plumbing techniques, we would recommend that you contact a local plumber that can install holding tanks and other green (water saving) plumbing tools.
Blog Post Provided By – Your Birmingham Plumber, Hinton Companies, Inc.
In order to ensure that your septic system will work properly, there are various maintenance techniques that can be employed to ensure longevity for your septic system. It is important to recognize that proper maintenance can not only improve septic system performance, but it can also reduce health risks. Some health risks that can be avoided are well water contamination and strong foul odors.
This blog post will highlight actions that you can take both in and out of the home to ensure proper performance from your septic system.
Home Interior Maintenance Tips for Septic Systems
1.Water Conservation
Septic systems thrive on a balance of water, waste and bacteria, if there is excess water in the system it can increase the amount of time required for beneficial bacteria to break down waste and waste by products. Be sure to check for leaks on a monthly basis.
2.Eliminate Leaks
Be sure to complete a thorough check of your entire waste water removal system to ensure that there are no leaks. A septic system can be compromised by a leaky toilet.
3.Excessive Simultaneous Water Usage
Be sure to effectively manage peak hours of water usage throughout your home. Significant water usage in the home can wreak havoc on a septic system, and is considered to be the number one source of problems in septic systems. Also, in order to ensure enjoyable holidays, be cautious with the frequency of showers taken, when guests are in the home.
4.Reduce the Number of Solids in the Septic System
Garbage disposals should be used judiciously as they can significantly increase the amount of solid matter found in a septic system. The larger and more solid an object is, the more difficult it is for the septic system to operate. A good rule of thumb is to place most objects into the trash can, and if you decide against this, be prepared to pump your septic system on a more consistent basis.
Here is a list of other solid objects to avoid flushing down drains or toilets:
-Diapers
-Tampons
-Sanitary Napkins
-Coffee Grounds
-Cigarettes
-Cloth
-Kitty Litter
-Plastic
The following items listed below, while not solids…can seriously impact and clog drain field soils.
-Oils
-Grease
-Fat
-Paint Thinner
-Pesticides
-Motor Oils
-Chemicals
The following items should never be used in excess.
-Bleach
-Paint
5.Commercial Products
In order to keep this simple, all of the bacteria that is needed to decompose waste found in your septic system occurs naturally…in your body, there is no need to add to that.
Home Exterior
1.Oversaturation
Avoid oversaturation of grasses and grounds around or above the septic system as it can extend the amount of time needed for the bacteria to work.
2.Excessive Soil Compaction
Avoid excessive soil compaction above the septic system, as it can negatively affect soil drainage, and it also increases the risk of broken pipes.
3.Maintain Proper Groundcover
Be sure to have extensive grass and shallow root shrubs and plants in order to eliminate soil erosion.
If the recommendations above are followed, then a septic system should not need to be pumped more than once every two to five years.
Information provided by-Birmingham Septic System Repair
Well-Water Testing
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, private well water should be tested yearly, and in some cases more often than that. A report by the Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), states that annual, well-testing is essential, especially for nitrate and microorganisms such as coliform bacteria, which may indicate that sewage has contaminated your well. These recommendations point out certain circumstances when additional testing should be done, including testing when a new infant is living in your house or if your well is subjected to structural damage.
Doctors and pediatricians warn that children are especially vulnerable to waterborne illnesses that may come from contaminated wells. Consequently, since well owners are primarily responsible for their own wells, are not subject to federal regulations, and only minimally regulated by states, it is imperative that well owners keep close checks on the healthiness of the well water that flows into their homes. With proper care, well water is very safe; however, wells that become contaminated by chemicals or pathogenic organisms are hazardous to a household’s well-being.
The most common contaminant in wells is nitrate, which comes from sewage or fertilizer. The presence of nitrates in water can be a problem for infants under three months of age in particular because they cannot metabolize nitrate. Water with a nitrate concentration of more than ten milligrams per liter should not be used to prepare infant formula or given to a child younger than one year old. Using bottled water for infants when nitrate contamination is detected, or when the source of drinking water is not known is your best bet for keeping your child free from nitrate poisoning.
Statistics show that water contamination is inherently local, and that families with wells need to keep in contact with state and local health experts to determine what should be tested in their community. For instance, some parts of the country have arsenic, radon, salt intrusion or agricultural runoff that may get into the water supply. In these communities, you should be very conscientious about testing your well water. There are some kits for well water testing, but to insure that yours is safe, contact a qualified licensed plumber to test your well water for toxins and contaminants.
Blog post provided by: Roswell, Ga Sewer System Experts