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Home My WebLink AboutGarbage Disposal Letter - Correspondence - 49 CARLTON LANE 6/17/2019 pp Iti 1 „Pr III! CYM I iiy� y 1A1 A I. 1 i f North Andover Heafth Department (ommunity and Economic Developmew 'NISiOn Y , June 1. ., 21'' Address.- 9 Carlton Lane ,All Norte Andover Residents with Septic steer and G a i! s orals Please nt that due to a recent review of a Title5 Report, your property has base identified as maintaining a working garbage disposal that is being used in conjunction with a septic system,. The Ilealth Department is concerned for the longevity of your septic system. Garbage disposals are never r�elcotyu-nended where septic systems, are used, but if they are n the system must e pe i .11y designed t and the waste fi om �hem your system can not an :le the waste as designed, Please to that continued use of this disposal could t quickly cause a pre-mature faiture of your septic system, resulting in a large pe d:tau t r ace it. The North.Andover Health Department recomrnendsi that you removet from.your hone as soon as possible. Some information regarding regular maintenance of your septic, system is attached. Please call the Health Department at 7 .6 1 . 5 ' " questions, or c-mail your questions to.- e hd no er a. Thank- you for taking the time to consider the impact that your current setup has on your septic 1 system and the environment. i Sincerely, 011110 a,n L Zrasse, CENT Director ofPublic Health r 1 120 Main Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845 Phone 978,.68,8.9540 Fax 917 8.688.9542 e' www.n � er . , i ANN imago W e re n c e u w-mmmomto%m n, A, Re' Laringitagor your Sep Guiale Caring for Your Septic System 1 1 Septic Systems Explained ,peptic systems, are individual wastewater treatment ent stems (conventional septic systems,, innovative/alternative I/A systems, or cesspools) that use the soil and bacteria to,treat small wastewater flow, usually from individual homes. They are typlically used in rural or large lot settings,where centralized wastewater treatment(sewer system to a treatmentplant) is impractical and uniavallable. There are many types of septic systern imp use today. While all systems are individually designed for each site, most st systems are based on the same principles, Conventional Septic Systems 1 conventional septic system consists of a septic tangy, a distribution box and a leach field. f I I Your,peptic system treats your household wastewater by temporarily oraril holding it in the septic tank where heavy solids and lighter debris are allowed to separate from, the wastewater and bacteria begin to break everything down. The solids sink to the bottom and are called the sludge layer; the lighter debris such as hair, oils and grease float to the top and are called a scum layer; and the wastewater or effluent is left in the middle. This separation process with the Initial decomposition is known as primary treatment. IN ins '�.w "��M�*w;��a*��"�i*a,.-� .�• fah*��,*arty*'w'a�a*yM*�°�*�w�*IN aw a*,wr .. ■. * p� out) +� � ��w�a�'�•'�"4��JhM�ww�w**�..��'��•�'ate*�'AaY w*Ia�rw*��"�IP*'�*'�*•M��.�#I�:��,. awl*wra,^wwa�'y�°*ww �a�*,.a' �.*s.•��tea,**aa�Fy�� y� �R.iwl�1 !4� k 'L EY n wrap°"�a 4x a.�M «* •*�' rw yy�M *I"�ww r • PEL ME TO le O Stu y y�p w w "' ted inlet: fa w �1t r from u wastewater t itn' in box and dfain field i f 1 f After the partially treated wastewater(effluent) leaves the terror it flows into distribution box. The 1 distribution box separates this efl'lu nt evenly into a network of pipes celled septic limes within the leach field. Small holes throughout the bottom of each, septic lime allow the effluent to slow,ly drain into gravel and sand layers where bacteria further treat and purify the effluent. This is known as secondary treatment. A ,properly functioning septic system urifi s the effluent through primary and secondary, treatment and does not pollute the groundwater. Carin or Your Septic System, (Conventional Septic System, Innovative/Alternative (I/A), System, or Cesspool) The accumulated solids in the bottom of the septic tank should be pumped out every two,years to prolong the life Of Your system., Septic systems must be maintained regularly to stay working., Neglect or abuse of your system can cause it to fail. Failing systems can: Cause a serious health, threat to your family and neighbors, Degrade the enviroinment, especially lakes, streams a,nd groundwater, Reduce the value of your property, Be very expensive to repair, and Put thousands,of water supply users at risk if you live in a public water supply watershed and fail to maintain, your system. Be alert to these warning signs of a failing system- 0 Sewage surfacing over the leach field (especially after storms,), 0 Sewage back-ups, in the house, 0 Lush, green growth oveir the leach field, 0 Slow draining toilets or drains, 0 Sewage odors. Save Money by Maintaining Your Septic System • A major reason to maintain your septic system is,to save money., Failing systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often the culpirit. Preventive maintenance is a whole lot cheaper than repair or replacement. For example, it couild cost up to $40,0001 or more to replace a failing system with a new one, compared to approximately$300 to,$400 to have a system, inspected', and pumped every couple of years, Maintaining a septic system is like maintaining a,car. A small effort on a regular basis can save a lot of money and significantly prolong the 1111fe,elf the system. 0 Innovative/Alternative (I/A) systems, although providing more advanced treatment, also require more frequent oversight and malintenance. • Please refer to our Septic Installers list for licensed contractors,. I i Tips to Avoid Trouble DO have your tangy purnped iout and system inspected every 2 years by a licensed septic contractor, If the e tan fulls up with rr excess f solids, the wastewater will not have en u,wu h tiro to settle in the t ug :. use excess solids will there pass on,t the leach field, where th will clog the drain lines and soil. More Iruf rm tin lr pumping., DO keep a record f' urru lug , inspections and nth rmaintenance, Use the back page of this brochure hure t record maintenance dates, DO practice water coin,ner ti n. Repair dripping faucets said leaking toilets, ruin washing machines, are dishwashers only when full, avolid long showers, and use water-saving features in faucets, shower heads and Hilts., DO learn the location of your septic system and leach, field. Keep a sketch of it handy for service visit.. If your system has flow diversion valve, learn its location, and turn it once a year. Flow i ert rs can add many years to the life of your system. DO divert roof drains and surface water from driveways and hillsides away from the septic system. Deep sump plumps and housle footing drains away from the septic system as well. O grow grass or small plaints (not trees or shrubs) above the septic system to hold the drain field in place. Water,conservation through creative landscaping is a greet way to control excess runoff. DO use only additives that have been allow for usage in Massachusetts by MassDEP. Additives that are III for use in Massachusetts have been determined not to produceharmful effecit to the individual system or its components or to the environment at barge. DO pp r for collection take leftover hazardous, I� u�usel' 1 �uernuls t �your approved, hazardous��t u�a center disposal. Use bleach,, disinfectants, an rain n toilet bowl cleaners sparingly n 'inaccordance with product labels. DON'T allow anyone,to drive or park over any part of the system. The area over the leach field should, be left undisturbed isturh withonly a mowed grass cover. 'Roots from ne rh trees or shrubs may clog and damage your septic lures. 1 DON'T plant,trees within 30 feet,of your system or park/drive park/drive over any part of the system., Tree roots will clog your,pipes, and heavy vehicles may uusyour septic lines to,collapse. DON'T make a r allow repairs to your septic system without obtaining the required health department permit. Use professional, licensed contractors when needed. C I'T use commercial septic tank additives other than those Hallowed for use in Massachusetts setts M assDE,P. These products usually not Delp and some may hurt your system in the brig run. DON'T use chemical solvents to Mean the plumbing or septic system. "Miracle", chemicals will bill microorganisms that consume harmful wastes. These products can also cause groundwater contamination. DON'T perform excessive laundry load's with your washing, machine. Doing load after load does, not allow your septic tank time to adequately treat wastes,and overwhelms the entire, system with excess wastewater, You could therefore be flooding your leach field without allowing sufficient recovery time. You should consult a septic professional to determine the gallon capacity and number ofloads per day that can safely go into the system. DON'T use a garbage grinder, garba isposal or any type of in sink food disposal, which feeds J!into the septic system. If you do have one in the house, severely limit its use or remove it. Food materials, do not break,down, the same way,as wastewater and adding food wastes,or other sollids severely reduces your system's capacity, increases the need to pump the septic tank,and can damage your system, DON'T use,your toll et as a trash can by dumpling, non-degradable items,down your toilet or drains. Also,, don't poison yo,ulr septic system and the groundwater by pouring harmful' chemicals,down the drain. 'They can kill the beneficial bacteria that treat your wastewater., Small amounts of standard househ,old' cleaners,, drain cleansers, detergents, etc., will be diluted in the tank and should cause no damage to the system. Keep the following materials out of your system: NON-DEGlRADABLES ITEMS* Cooking grease, disposable diapers, Mastics, dental floss cigarettes, etc. , POISONS: Gasoline, oil,, paint, paint thiriner, pesticides, polyurethane, dyes, disinfectants, antifreeze,, etc. Water Softeners Many homes or small businesses may decide to install water softeners to address"hard water" and t'he resulting mineral deposits,that build up from it. The,Title 5 regulations prohibit water softener backwash or reject wastes from going into a septic system (conventional septic system,, UA system, or cesspool), in any amount., However, the baickwash from water softeners or from other water purification, or filtration devices can be discharged into a drywell that has been properly designed and i's approved' by the Illocal Board of Flealth. Backwash is wastewater generated from the cleaning of water and wastewater treatment filters. A drywell is a pit with open jointed lining or holes that allow infiltration to the surrounding soil. For more information on having a dresell designed for your home,or business, you should contact the Health Department,