Summer is a great time to get together with family and friends. However, it's also a time when your septic system can be inundated with additional water and waste. All that added water and waste can really put a damper on your summer fun, especially if the added waste water causes your septic system to back up into the yard, or into your home. The last thing you want is to greet your guests with a flood of human waste. Luckily, you don't have to. Here are three steps you should take to make sure you and your guests don't have to deal with septic problems this summer.
Consider a Portable Toilet
If your house is going to be packed with out-of-town guests all summer long, and you don't want to overuse your septic system, it's a good idea to rent at least one portable toilet. That way, you can reserve septic tank space for the additional showers, cooking, and laundry you're going to be doing. Portable toilets are convenient and sanitary. In fact, you can even rent a portable wash station that will allow your house guests to wash their hands while they're outside.
Run Gray Water for the Summer
If you know that your house guests are going to be doing extra laundry while they're visiting, now's a good time to run a gray water line from your washing machine to the yard. Running a gray water line will divert the wash water to the yard, which will keep it out of the septic tank. It's a great way to protect your septic tank systems and will allow you to water your garden without wasting valuable water, which is crucial during a drought.
Choose a Different Play Area
If you've decided to rent a bounce house, or set up an above-ground pool, you'll need to take care when choosing the location. This is crucial when you have a septic system in your yard. Setting up a bounce house or an above-ground pool directly over the septic system could spell disaster. The vibration alone could cause the walls of the seepage pit to collapse. Not only that, but the additional weight can also cause problems for your septic system. Instead of risking septic failure, choose a play area that's located farther away from the septic system.
Summertime is playtime. Now that you're planning your summer playtime, use the information provided here to help you protect your septic system.