Mosquito Control

* ensure vents have mosquito-proof mesh fitted
* ensure inspection openings and tanks are sealed

Cleaners

* use products labelled as biodegradable or septic-safe.
* follow directions for use and use in moderation
* use alternative cleaners such as bicarbonate of soda, pure soap, borax, vinegar, lemon juice, cloudy ammonia, etc

Toilet Paper

* use only biodegradable toilet paper. Facial tissues, sanitary napkins, tampons and disposable nappies or nappy liners should not be flushed down the toilet.

Food Scraps

* should go into the bin or to compost, not down the sink

Water Use

* to save money and care for your septic, minimise water use, eg by suds-saving or spreading wash loads over the week.

Desludging

* all types of septic tanks require desludging by professional contractors at least every four years. Some tanks may require more frequent pump-outs depending on size and use.

Desludging prevents solid materials from passing out of the sludge chamber of the septic tank, be it a standard or aerobic system, into soakage trenches, common effluent schemes, clarification chambers or irrigation systems.

Solids passing into these areas will clog the pores in soil preventing absorption of effluent, or block pipes and pumps, all of which can result in costly repairs and present a risk to health when failures occur.

Some materials simply must not enter your septic system, otherwise problems will almost certainly occur. These include:

* Stormwater from downpipes or rainwater tank overflows.
* Backwash water from pools, spa pools or water softeners.
* Solid materials such as paper, plastic, sanitary napkins, tampons, nappies or nappy liners.
* Trade waste from commercial or industrial premises.
* Paint, petroleum products or other solvents, strong alkaline, acid or bleaching agents.