Septic Systems 101

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What is a Septic System?

Most residents in Sharon rely on septic systems to treat their wastewater. Septic systems are very different from sewer systems.

Septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures that use a combination of nature and proven technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry.

It’s up to YOU to maintain your septic system. If you don’t know what type of septic system you have, check with the Sharon Board of Health. Regular maintenance will save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs.

How Does a Septic System Work?

A typical septic system consists of a septic tank and a drainfield or leachfield. The septic tank separates oils, grease, and solids from liquids (wastewater). Solids settle to the bottom of the tank where they are “digested” by bacteria. (This is the stuff that gets pumped out of the tank.)

Wastewater exits the tank into the leachfield, where it travels through perforated pipes and percolates through the soil. This process removes bacteria, viruses, and nutrients from the wastewater before it discharges to groundwater.

How to Live with a Septic System

Limit Your Chemical Use
Beneficial bacteria are important for a healthy septic system. Anything that goes down the drain that kills bacteria can harm your septic system.

• Limit your use of harsh chemicals and antibacterial products such as bleach, ammonia, and drain cleaners. Spot-clean with bleach instead of cleaning with full-strength bleach products.
• Clear clogged drains with a plunger, boiling water, or a drain snake instead of chemicals.
• Never put paint, motor oil, pesticides, or other household hazardous wastes down the drain. Bring them to the Town’s Hazardous Waste Collection Day.

Treasure Your Toilet
There are some things that just shouldn’t be flushed, whether you have a septic tank or sewer system. Make sure that you never flush these items, which are often the cause of major clogs and costly repairs:

• Tampons and sanitary napkins
• Disposable diapers
• Wipes (there is no such thing as a flushable wipe)
• Paper towels
• Cat litter
• Cigarette butts

Avoid Garbage Disposals
Septic systems rely on bacteria to break down solids. Garbage disposal waste breaks down a lot slower than other matter that goes down the drain and can overload and harm a septic tank.
For that reason, using garbage disposals with septic systems is discouraged. The better solution? Compost your food scraps.

Finally, never pour fats, oil, or grease down a drain, whether you have a septic system or not. These products create clogs that can be very disruptive and expensive to repair.

Conserve Water
Water-efficient toilets, showerheads, faucets, clothes washers, and dishwashers limit the amount of water that enters a septic system and helps with overall performance.

Protect Your Leachfield
Never place anything heavy on top of the leachfield, such as a patio, swimming pool, shed—or a parked car. Heavy items can compact the soil and crush the underground pipes.

Failure symptoms: Mind the signs!

A foul odor is not always the first sign of a malfunctioning septic system. Call a septic professional if you notice any of the following:

• Wastewater backing up into household drains.
• Bright green, spongy grass on the leachfield, especially during dry weather.
• Pooling water or muddy soil around your septic system or in your basement.
• A strong odor around the septic tank and leachfield.

Malfunctioning septic systems can discharge bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. When these pollutants are released, they eventually enter streams, rivers, lakes, and more—harming local ecosystems by killing native plants, fish, and shellfish.