Recommendations

1. Thou shalt not pour greases, fats and oils down any drain!
2. Thou shalt not attach a garbage disposal to your sink for ridding thyself of meat bones, coffee grounds or other foods that are difficult to biodegrade!
3. Thou shalt not dispose of paints or household chemicals in the drain (yea, verily, THOU SHALT use disinfectants in small amounts)!
4. Thou shalt not dispose of any automobile fluids down any drain, be it gas, oil, transmission or break fluid, grease or antifreeze!
5. Thou shalt not kill the beneficial bacteria in your septic system by rinsing pesticides, herbicides or any other toxins down the drain!
6. Thou shalt not dispose of any non-biodegradable item in your toilet, be it cigarette butts, disposable diapers or feminine hygiene products!
7. Thou shalt not let water run while washing dishes and thawing frozen foods and shall consider limiting flushes!
8. Thou shalt not run half loads in the dishwasher or washing machine and shall stagger wash loads (none on the Sabbath then six on Mondays!)
9. Thou shalt not use chemicals to "start up" or "clean up" your system, yea, they could harm the septic tank, drain field or groundwater!
10. Thou shalt not attach "clean water" sources such as footing or sump pumps to the septic system!

Adapted with permission from Burkes and Minnis' book, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems.