SepticSmart Week
This week is national SepticSmart Week! If you live on Cape Cod and own a septic system, you have an important role to play in protecting our precious water resources.
For more information about Septic Smart Week, go here. >
The Barnstable Test Center has additional local information. >
This week's tips:
Grease
Let’s talk about grease. What goes down your drain can have big impact on your septic system. Leftover cooking grease should always be disposed of in the trash. Scrape hot grease into a cup to cool before putting it in the trash can. Grease in your septic system can clog your leach field, leading to costly repairs.
Pharmaceuticals
Let’s talk about getting rid of medications. Old or leftover medications should never be flushed – it’s best to bring them to your local police or fire department for proper disposal. Remember: Always think about what you’re putting down the drain.
Pump it out
Your septic system needs a little looking after. Protect your system by having your septic tank pumped out every 3-5 years – hundreds spent today can save you thousands in replacing a failed system tomorrow.
Advanced
Every septic system needs looking after. If you have an advanced septic system, also called Innovative/Alternative or “I/A”, make sure to have it maintained to keep it in top working order.
For more information about Septic Smart Week, go here. >
The Barnstable Test Center has additional local information. >
This week's tips:
Grease
Let’s talk about grease. What goes down your drain can have big impact on your septic system. Leftover cooking grease should always be disposed of in the trash. Scrape hot grease into a cup to cool before putting it in the trash can. Grease in your septic system can clog your leach field, leading to costly repairs.
Pharmaceuticals
Let’s talk about getting rid of medications. Old or leftover medications should never be flushed – it’s best to bring them to your local police or fire department for proper disposal. Remember: Always think about what you’re putting down the drain.
Pump it out
Your septic system needs a little looking after. Protect your system by having your septic tank pumped out every 3-5 years – hundreds spent today can save you thousands in replacing a failed system tomorrow.
Advanced
Every septic system needs looking after. If you have an advanced septic system, also called Innovative/Alternative or “I/A”, make sure to have it maintained to keep it in top working order.
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Two years ago, the town sewer system’s critical central vacuum system malfunctioned, after heavy rain caused a failure in the electrical panel. The results, for many, were unpleasant. -
Forget the era of volunteers getting water quality data every five days. Data loggers are collecting information every 10 minutes. -
The feds could eventually release rules limiting the use of treated sludge as fertilizer, meaning more towns will be trying to dispose of theirs. The team at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center call this scenario, "Sludgement Day." -
Research happening at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center is examining if wood chips could help remove the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from the environment. -
Towns throughout the Cape have to cut down nitrogen pollution to waterways as part of the state’s new rules on septic systems. -
The potential delay in the plan to connect to the Joint Base’s wastewater treatment plant comes as towns across the Cape are installing sewers to cut nitrogen pollution in local waters. -
Safe recycling of nutrients from human “waste", to stop pollution -
Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday finalized regulations designed to incentivize towns to obtain a Watershed Permit, which can be earned by designing and implementing 20-year wastewater solutions. Each town is expected to tailor its plans to the needs of the community and individual watersheds.In towns that obtain the permit, homeowners could avoid a seven-year requirement to upgrade or replace their septic systems, which can cost more than $25,000. -
Watch the drone footage of local waters and the nitrogen-fed algae overtaking them. -
Newly proposed septic rules that could require thousands of Cape Cod homeowners to upgrade or replace their septic systems in the next five years sparked heated debate last night at a virtual public meeting.
