• An OSSF should not be treated as if it were a normal city sewer system.
• The excessive use of in-sink garbage grinders and grease discarding should be avoided. In-sink garbage grinders can cause a rapid buildup of sludge or scum resulting in a requirement for more frequent cleaning and possible system failure.
• Do not use the toilet to dispose of cleaning tissues, cigarette butts or other trash. This disposal practice will waste water and also impose an undesired solids load on the treatment system.
• Septic tanks shall be cleaned before sludge accumulates to a point where it approaches the bottom of the outlet device. If sludge or scum accumulates to this point, solids will leave the tank with the liquid and possibly cause clogging of the perforations in the drainfield line resulting in sewage surfacing or backing up into the house through the plumbing fixtures
• Since it is not practical for the average homeowner to inspect his tank and determine the need for cleaning, a regular schedule of cleaning the tank at two to three year intervals should be established. Commercial cleaners are equipped to readily perform the cleaning operation. Owners of septic tank systems shall engage only persons registered with the NRCC to transport the septic tank cleaning.
• Do not build driveways, storage buildings or other structures over the treatment works or its disposal field.
• Chemical additives or the so-called enzymes are not necessary for the operation of a septic tank. Some of these additives may even be harmful to the tank’s operation.
• Soaps, detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners and other household cleaning materials will very seldom affect the operation of the system. However, moderation should be exercised in the use of such materials.
• It is not advisable to allow water softener back flush to enter into any portion of the OSSF.
• The liquid from the OSSF is still heavily laden with bacteria. The surfacing of this liquid constitutes a hazard to the health of those that might come into contact with it.
• Use washing machine sparingly. Do full load and average one load per day.

• Showers usually use less water than baths. Install a water saving shower head that used less than two and ½ gallons per minute and saves both water and energy.
• If you take a bath, reduce the level of water in the tub from the level to which you customarily fill it.
• Leaky faucets and faulty toilet fill-up mechanisms should be repaired as quickly as possible.
• Check toilets for leaks that may not be apparent. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank. Do not flush. If the color appears in the bowl within a few minutes, the toilet fill or ball-cock valve needs to be adjusted to prevent water from overflowing the stand pipe or the flapper at the bottom of the toilet tank needs to be replaced.
• Reduce the amount of water used for flushing the toilet by installing one of the following: a new toilet (1.6 gallons); a toilet tank dam; or filling and capping one-quart plastic bottles with water (usually one is all that will fit in smaller toilet tanks) and lowering them into the tank of the existing 3.5 gallon or larger toilet. Do not use bricks since they may crumble and cause damage to the fixture.
• Try to run the dishwater with a full load, whenever possible.
• Avoid running the water continuously for brushing teeth, washing hands, rinsing kitchen utensils or for cleaning vegetables.
• Use faucet aerators that restrict flow to no more than 2.2 gallons per minute to reduce water consumption.
• Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water turns cool.
• Insulate all hot water pipes to avoid long delays of wasted water while waiting for the heated water.
• Use washing machine sparingly. Do full loads and average one per day.

• On-going maintenance shall be provided by a valid maintenance company. A valid maintenance company must have an installer II certificate or a Class D or higher waste water operator certificate AND be certified by the appropriate manufacturer’s of your aerobic unit.
• The owner of each surface application system shall continuously maintain a signed written contract with a valid maintenance company and shall submit a copy of the contract to the permitting authority at least 30 days prior to expiration of the previous contract.
• If the property owner or maintenance company desires to discontinue the provisions of the maintenance contract, the maintenance company shall notify, in writing, the permitting authority at least 30 days prior to the date service will cease.
• If a maintenance company discontinues business, the property owner shall within 30 days of the termination date, contract with another approved maintenance company and provide the permitting authority with a copy of the newly signed maintenance contract.
• Conserve water at all times to reduce the amounts that must be treated and disposed of on-site.
• Spread out your wash throughout the week rather than doing it all in one or two days. Excessive water flows will overload your system.
• Discharge only human wastes into the system. Any other items introduced should be biodegradable. These should be kept at a minimum.
• Watch for ant hills near your electrical components. Ants have been known to be destructive to both the electrical and mechanical components of these systems.
• Contact the manufacturer of your system direct if you are unable to obtain help/service locally. They should be able to either refer you to someone else or provide help directly.
• Read and follow you manufacturer’s maintenance/operation manual.
• You are required to keep disinfectant in your system at all times. Most system use tablet chlorinators. DO NOT USE pool chlorine, it must be wastewater type (calcium hyprochlorite) chlorine.
• Do not turn off the electrical supply? The bacteria in your system needs to have a constant supply of air to stay alive. Without proper aeration, your system will have an odor. If you detect odors, contact your service representative.
• Do not use strong cleaner/bleaches. Use only as much as necessary and be conservative. Use low sudsing, low phosphate, biodegradable detergents.
• Do not use phenol based cleaners such as pine oil, etc. These cleaners are especially harmful to aerobic system.
• Do not dispose of medicines in the system.
• Do not allow sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, latex, plastics, metal objects, etc. in the system. You should also never dispose of coffee grounds, cigarette butts, sticks or mud in the system.
• Do not put paper towels, napkins or tissues in the system (dispose of such items in your trash).
• Do not wash clothes all day. Limit yourself to no more than three loads in any one day and these should be spread out throughout the day as much as possible.
• Do not use garbage disposal to dispose of food particles. These are hard for your system to treat. Compost or trash all food particles.
• Do not place rags, strings, lint, hair, bandages, etc. in system.
• Do not treat your aerobic system like a garbage dump. Overuse will cost you more money in increased pump outages and cleaning charges.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires that an ongoing maintenance contract is required for OSSF systems that use secondary treatment systems, non-standard treatment systems, drip irrigation, and surface application disposal ( 30 TAC 285.7).

      MAINTENANCE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

• List items that are covered by the contract
• Specify a time frame in which the maintenance company will visit the property in response to a complaint by the property owner regarding the operation of the system
• Specify the name of the individual who is certified by the manufacturer of the system\
• Identify the frequency of routine maintenance and the frequency of the required testing and reporting
• Identify who is responsible for maintaining the disinfection unit

     MAINTENANCE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

• Install a tag on the system at the beginning of each maintenance contract
• Identification shall either be punched or marked at the time of each visit or inspection
• Inspect components of the system, and note whether or not every component is working during each site visit (if item is inoperative, homeowner must have the item repaired)
• Test the system as required in 30 TAC 285.91(4)
• Submit a report to the permitting authority and homeowner at least once every four months