HomeMy WebLinkAboutGarbage Disposal Letters - Correspondence - 64 NORTH CROSS ROAD 7/20/2022 North Andover Houlds Department
Cuaruumuauuily mid luunnvamic Dev lo;pnuuu nt Divisju
July 20, 2022
° ,uld c ss- 64 Noilh Cross Road
All North Azidover Residents With Se:ulirSystems and Garbage Dis uasuals
9'lcrnsu ntunte llnau: clu.ue tcu au rcc:ernt r i "'�.,r ofa Title l�.elacart, your pi°cagaeu°ty lnau krcu ru nulcuutrftcul as
maintaining au wo�rking garin,aage disiarasaull that is beiung Used in co njuurnctican:n with a septic ,ystelli,
The Health Department is uau'anncaerntieci lcnr tine longevity of your septic systu trr.
Garbage disposa b, are never rec:crn7nunnmded where cu l tic system,- erne used, but if tlucy are
itnautullecl& tlne systernn rnnuust be spceificaally desigtied l.un lnauuunclle the wauste ft°catnn than ; your systusunr
unnjuu.y not be aubic to lnaatnclle tluc„ mta ter any clesigtaed, Please note that cerntiunuuccl use cal°tl-ais clispols'.ul
could quickly ,cause Lt.pre-mature fiailatre of your septic; systCrnup ru suultitlg in ar Nip,- eucpennclit;uum,to
replace it. The North Aunclovt—r° Health Dep artr meth rcccnutnauftcTids tl at. the c;li pcasuul be rernnove frcaunn
your home as su:au.aun as possible.
ome: information jr-Cgardilig, regular aUnaairnteunautncAe. cufyouur septic ystetuu is illeludecl, please Call
the Ileaaltln Depanr lintetnt arl. 978,688.,9540 ify0uu! have anru;y quu s;tiowi, or e-mail your cluuestioi.is to
l�caultincl ,1trcl a :O uul—by rtuna , c v.
T auunlc you for ta.lciuug the t' ite to Cou,winleur t,lne impact that your cuurrucrut +;etu;tp has on your ,;(q)ic;
System aerie, the c.un'c+irn lu—flen t,
� faii l zn �al in ''� .A, It N IA N u
liruNctnnr cal l�uul�lic�l<leualtln
l 20, ,l ii t°u° tr, I rt Andover, iN aissuchus i`ts 01845
Phone 978.6881.9540 Fax 978.688.9542 Wets lnttpp)'I .nncarthat ntdovoirima,go�v
Caring for your, Septic Sy stern: A Reference
Guide for Homeowners
Caring for Your Septic System
Septic Systems Explained
SepticsyMoms aro inidividual wastawaler treatment systems (conventional aeptiltSysterns,
ir'i:in:ova,ti,veladtai°-nativL-:(M)sy-stetn% or cesspools)that LISP the soilland baGtOria to treat small wastewater
flow,% usually from individual homes. They acre typkl Eflly used in rural or large lot settings whore
centralized Wastewater troatrniorit(sewer system to,a treatrnent pl.a.nt)is impraCtibal and Unaval'[abita.
Thorn are many types of septic systonla lin use today, Whil'e all'��ysterns aro Individuall'y designed for each
s[te:, mast sys tv'ns Eire based on the sa me:pirinclpf(.'s.
AConventWinal Soptic System
A conventional septic,syAam ocmsists of a sept[G tank, a distribution box and a loach field.
YOUr supitic system treats your hausleho[d Wastewater by temporarily ho[rfirtg it It"i this septic tank where
heavy solids and fightor dobris are allowed to separate from the wastowater and bacteria begin to bro,,Ik
Overythi ng down, 1"he solids sink to tho birAllum and are cal led the Rkldgle tay6r; the fighter debris such as
hai'r, oils,and'grr,",,aura float.to the top and are., called a saum k..qor, ,and fl-Le wastewater ore-ft[L.Lertt Is left[n
Clara middlb., This sep
aration ratian process,With the i niti al dbGornpositi' n is known as prim,,,gy troatmo nt.
ns
f r.Dm ghes
to d0dbidion
After the parflafly treated!Wastewater(effluent),leaves tho tank it flows into,a distribution hinx. The
d'18tribUtion box separafes,this effluent avenly Into a netwark of pipes fines within the leach
field. SM-811 110110s thtULtg#%OU:t the bottom of each septic,Rno Wlow the effluent to,slowly drain lrilo gravel
and sand layers where:bacteria further treat and purify the effluent, nis is known as secondary
treatment, A proporly functluning septic system pudfiesthe afflurint througl-t primary and secondary
troatmont and does not pollit.ite the grou,ndwater.
Caring for Your Septic System
(Conventional Septic Systern, Innovative)ARornalive (I/A)System, or Cesspool)
"rho arcurriulated %(,')lkJs in the bottom of the sopflu tank.-shooki bt,- purriped out every two years to prolong
the:life of your systern. Sclotic aYqtpms raust be inai'Mained regularly to stay working.
Nog;l(,,d or buse(if Your systeill Gan;,ca u,,s,o 11 to,fail., Falling Systems Gail'
Caluse a serious hoalth threat to,your fanifly ari,,d ne[ghbors,
Qegrade the environment, ospucialiy lake-s, alreams,and groundwater,
[�educe tho of your,property,
Be very expensive to repair, and
■ Put thousatift of waler supply users at risk if you, live In a water supply watershed and fail
to rnnintain your systern.
Be alort to thoscwarri[rig %,Igns of a failing systerm.
Sea age suifadillq OVOr thO 11(,,°ach fold (especiaHy after storms),
Sewage back-ups,in the house,
Lush, green growth over the leach field,
Slow draining toilets or drains,
Sowago Wors.
Save Money by Maintaining Your Soptic System
A Ma or r(.,)waon to maintain your sePtjjC SyStOrIj lip,JIoj SrjVe Y., Pailing systeriis are exportsivo
to, repair or ropkaze, and poor nnainteriance is often the culprit. Prevomfive rriaintenance is a whole
lot cheaper thartrepairor roplacomorit. For example,, itt coutd cost up to$40,000 or moro W
replace a faffing �y-&tern with a new one, compared to approArnately$300 to$400 to have a
systeWinspected, andpiurntpod ovary coLiple of years., MaintaiAng a soptk;sptoai ['s like:
rnalrita.1rdrig a car. A small effbil on a ragular bwjN,c;)rj,,s,,avPa lot of money and sign[ficandy
prolong the fife of(tic 13Ystem.
(UA)systoms,, afthoughi providing more advanced treatment, Ellso require
more fraquon L avorsigh t:91A R-nain tena nce.
Please refer'to our Septic 11ristallors IjMfor 110ensed contractors,
Tips to Avoid Trouble
DO liave your ta n k purnped OUt and system inspected eve ry 2 years, by a lfc*ns ed septic
contractor, If the tank fills LIP with afl; excess of solids, the wastewater will riot have Pinoligh fltrto tu settle
in the tank. Those excAasss,olicts will then pass on to the foaGh field,where 0rijoy will chog the drain I!in(',:s
and More [nformation oni iaumt)ilrino„
DO,kelem a recard of purnping, inspoctions:, and Othor alaifl;tenance, Use Ilfte back page of this brmhuro to
rocord majntenanc dates.
00 practice water cnm-,,arvatlon. Repair dr[pping faucets and leak[ng toilets, run washing rnachin86 Brnd
dishwashers,on[y when full, avoid long showam, and use water-saving feafujrets,fni faiaGets, shawer heads
and, tolliats,
00 learn the location Of YOLAt'S;C-l.fflc systerri and leach field'. Keep sketch of it handy for service visits. If
your systern 4,as a flow diversionvalve, lGarn ilts locatiorl, and turn,it once a year.. Flow diverters c,an, aidd
marry yoors; to the llife,of your system-
DO d3verl roof drains sand surffico water fro indri'Veways and hillsid-esaway from the septicsystern. Kuop
SUMP 1XII'llps and I"imse footing drains away from tfte septic,systom as well.
DO grow grass oar small plaints(not trees or,shrubs)above the:septic systom to,hold the drain fl Old in
place.'Water oc.niiso rvatibn th roug hi oroative landscaping is a groat way for,control oxcoss runoff,
DO USO only additives that have been a I lowed for usage In MassacImsetts; by MlassDEP Add Ifives that
are allolwed for use in Massachusetts have been determined not to pl'oduce to hari-niful effect to the
Indivi'dual'systern or Its components or to than orivirailimentat largo.
DO,take leftover hazardous, household chemicals 10 Your approved haeardous waste colfect[on C�nlor for
disposal„ Use bleach, disinfectants, and drain and toilet blow[cleaners sparingly and In accordance With
product labels-
DON'T allow anyone to drive or p.qrk over any part of the-systern. The area over,th(-,,:loadh field should be
left undisftirbied with only a mowed grass cover. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs may and darnage
your septic firlies.
DON'T plant trees within 30,feet of your system or park/dirive over any part of the,system. Tree roots will
C109 YOUr pipes, and'heavy volt[dies may cause your septib lines to,oollapso.,
DON'T aiake, of allow repairs to yoUr sopt[G system Without obtaining the required' health department
purr-nit. Use prores,slonal!licensed contractors when needed.
DON'T use cornmercial septit tank additives other than those,allowed for uise In Massachusetts by
MassDEK These prodbGtS usuaflydo not hc]p and some may'hurt your systeni in the lbtlg FUm,
DON'Ttiso chernical solvents to clean the plumbing or septic system. "Miracte"Chemicals will kill
mirroorganigyns that consurne harmful wastes These prarlix"Iscan also cause groundwater
c,ont"Mination.
DON'T perfOrM oxcessIve laundry loads;with your washing machine. Doing load affor load does not(111CON
your sloptic tank ti'me to aidequately treat wastes and overwhelms the entire qsterni with excess
wastowater, You (,auld therefore bar flooding your leach field vifthout 211,01WI119 SUff[Clb!"It recovory Unie- You
r0)auld cunsull a sof,'a 1r.prof(3,;ralonal,to,detei,-nilne the gallon capacity and number of loa& per day that
can ,;,afely go Into the tqstern,
D ON"T use a garbag e grinder, ga rbage d!s pasa I or,gray type of I In,s!n k food dis pos al,Whi(A i feeds
into t!he sopUe systern. it you do have one in the house, sovere,[Y limit Its I,j5e!or refflove it.. Food matorials
do not break down the samie way as wastowater and'adding food wastes or oth-er sofids severoly reduzes
YOUT SyStOrn";CaPaCRY, 111CM,,,tnes the need to ptimp the 301:4L tanik arid can dwnage your systeni.,
DON'T use Your toilet ac,, a trash can by dUraping flon-degr-adable,iterns,down your toilet or drahis. Also,
do,ly,t poison your,,ept!c system and the groundwater by pouring,harailul chomlc;als down the drain, They
can kill thu benefic U bacteria that treat your wastevater. S,Mafl anrourds of stand,,,�rd IIGUS,ehold cleaners,
drain dieanser'8, detergents, etc.WWI he diluk'xi in the tank and qhould caLj`e no dan,,-iage to the systern.
Beep i ffio following rnateria1s,oUt of y0U1r`,YSteM
NON-DEGRADABLES ITEM&
Cooking grease, disposable diaplar.,,i, plastic,,;, dental floss, c1garettes, etc.
POISONS'.
Gasoline, oil, paint, palitt thinnerr, pesbcidos, polyurothane, dycs,disi,nfoctants, zuifilrepze, etc.
Water Siof tone rs
Many homes or,;vvja I I btI,,,fl nessies,may,daclde to instal I water softeners to address"h ard water'„and tho
resulifing mineral,deposits that build LIP from it.The"ritio,5 regulations prohibit water soflener backwasli 01-
ruject wastos from qio4,19 into a septic,Sy'Sten' (Go,rjVeIj,tjoIqa,j�ptIIG systern, I systaim, or(a(,Fs�Pool), In
any aniount.
However, the backwash frorn water softeners or from other water purification or filb-ation rJevices c:an be
dizv.barged info a drywel] that has been,properly dvsigned and lis,approved by the local Buard of Health.
Backw,isb is vizv�:tewator 9 Pn erated from ffic deanin�jq of water and wastowater treatment Mors'. A drywell
Gsi a pit with, open-jainted linings or holos that allow,kififtrati,on to the surfouflAing-9,01L
For moi-o Iriformatibil,on havilng a drywoll desiqnc(J for you-r home or business, YOU should onntaGt th.(-
Vloalth Department,.