Prevent mosquito breeding
•
Fit all system vents with mosquito-proof mesh and make sure all access openings are sealed
properly.
Regularly remove accumulated sludge from the tank.
•
Built-up solids can affect the performance of your system. Household pipes may back up
with sewage and your subsoil trench system may become clogged, causing effluent to come
to the surface, pool and smell. This can endanger the environment and is a public health risk.
•
Accumulated solids in septic tanks need cleaning or pumping out usually once every 3-5
years. This is a job for a specialist with the correct pumping equipment, not something that
is done by the homeowner. Call a plumber or septic system specialist to find out who offers
these services in your area.
Be sure the system is easy to access for maintenance
•
If your tank is difficult to access you will need to install an approved access shaft to minimise
future maintenance difficulties.
•
Do not construct driveways, buildings or paved areas over the septic and soakage area,
unless this is part of the original design and the design has allowed for the extra loadings and
requirements.
Plan landscaping and irrigation carefully.
•
Only plant grass near the absorption field (roots from larger plants such as trees and shrubs
may damage the trench) and mow the area regularly. Choose nutrient-tolerant plants for
drain fields and irrigation areas.
•
Contact your council environment health officer before installing an irrigation system or
doing landscaping around your trench area.
