SepticSmart Week

Key Messaging

Check out the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s SepticSmart quick tips:

• Keep it protected; get it inspected: Learn about a typical septic system inspection, how often an inspection should be performed and considerations for advanced systems.
• Shield the field: Learn about your septic system’s drainfield, including how it works and tips to take care of it.
• Think at the sink: Learn what not to put down your kitchen sink (such as fats, oils, or greases), how to properly dispose of food waste and how to use cleaning supplies in moderation.
• Don’t overload the commode: Learn about what can be flushed down the toilet and what should be thrown in the trash.
• Don’t strain your drain: Learn about the importance of using water efficiently, staggering water use of water- based appliances and using energy efficient appliances.

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Sunday, Sept. 13: Introduction to SepticSmart Week.

This week is SepticSmart Week! All throughout the week, we’ll be sharing tips and resources for maintaining a healthy septic system from UGA Extension’s water quality experts. Stay tuned for more insights on how to keep your septic system healthy.

For more information, check out the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ podcast episode on the top six tips for managing your septic system: https://ugacaes.org/3ULKNrp

(Not on a septic system yourself? Share this video with someone who might need a bit of help 😊)

Monday, Sept. 14: Keep it protected; get it inspected.

It’s SepticSmart Week, and UGA Extension’s water experts are here to help you keep your system healthy.

Today, Stephanie Butcher and Gary Hawkins of the UGA Extension water team are answering some of the most common questions associated with septic systems.

▪️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺? If you live in a rural area, you probably do. Your local Extension agent can let you know for sure!
▪️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸? A septic system separates solids from oils and fats in water before distributing that water back into the soil where it is filtered.
▪️ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱? Have your system inspected every three years and pumped every three to five years.

For more information, contact your local county Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: Shield the field.

When waste leaves your home, it heads to your septic system… but then what?

On day two of SepticSmart Week, Stephanie Butcher and Gary Hawkins of the UGA Extension water team review common distribution systems and explain how to protect your drainfield. Check out some quick tips below:

❌ Don’t drive heavy machinery or cars over your drainfields.
❌ Don’t park over your drainfield.
❌ Don’t plan any deep-rooted vegetation over your drainfield.
✅ Driving most lawn mowers over the distribution field is just fine.
✅ Consult a septic service professional to advise you of the proper distance for planting trees and shrubs.

For more information, contact your local county Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Wednesday, Sept. 16: Think at the sink.

What can and can’t go into a septic system? Great question!

Today, Stephanie Butcher and Gary Hawkins of the UGA Extension water team review some of the most common do’s and don’ts when it comes to flushing or washing something down the drain:

Common things to avoid:
❌ Excess cooking grease or oil
❌ Coffee grounds
❌ Large volumes of cleaners like bleach that adversely affect the bacteria breaking down waste in your septic system.

For more information, contact your local county Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Thursday, Sept. 17: Don’t overload the commode.

💧 If you want to keep your septic system healthy, don’t overload the commode.

Totally fine:
✅ Human waste (three P’s: pee, poo and (toilet) paper)
✅ Toilet paper

Things to avoid:
❌ Excess cooking grease or oil
❌ Coffee grounds
❌ Large volumes of cleaners like bleach that adversely affect the bacteria breaking down waste in your septic system.
❌ Non-degradable products, including feminine hygiene products, dental floss, diapers, cat litter, etc.

For more information, contact your local county Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Friday, Sept. 18: Don’t strain the drain.

A typical septic tank can only hold 1,000 to 1,500 gallons of water. Anything more than that might result in contaminated water coming to the surface.

To cut down on your usage:

✅ Regularly check for leaks in your faucets, toilets and appliances.
✅ Add in low flow faucets and showerheads.
✅ Look for appliances with that ENERGY STAR or WaterSense ratings.
✅ Space out doing laundry.
✅ Monitor for increased rain.

For more information, contact your local county Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

Resources

Before posting on social media, be sure to review our social media guidelines and ensure your posts are compliant with the most recent accessibility standards using our digital accessibility handbook. Ask yourself these key questions before posting:

• Do my graphics have enough contrast to be readable? If not, check out the “using color” section of our digital accessibility handbook.
• Have I included alt text alongside all of my images? If not, check out the “alternative text” section of our digital accessibility handbook.
• Does my video have captions? If not, check out the “video and audio” section of our digital accessibility handbook.
• When sharing on Instagram, are my links interactive? If not, include the URL in your profile bio as opposed to the post caption.

Questions

Please contact Gary Hawkins at ghawkins@uga.edu with any questions.