06/04/2026
How to be septic smart?
A failing septic system can cause thousands of dollars to repair. Follow a few easy guidelines to be septic smart and maintain a healthy septic system.
1. Pump the system regularly: A family of four should have their septic system pumped once a year. A family of one or two people should be able to pump every other year but should speak to a service provider about the best schedule.
2. Do not use a garbage disposal: If one is installed, limit its use to vegetable scraps (or, better, compost those scraps). Also pump the septic system every year.
3. Check the flapper on all toilet bowls: Flappers can wear out in as little as three years; a leaking flapper can waste water and overload the septic system. To check for a worn flapper, do this test first thing in the morning before the toilet has been flushed: Take a paper towel and wipe the inside of the bowl. If the towel is wet, the flap is in need of replacement (do not flush paper towel).
4. Never flush the following items down the toilet or wash down the drain: coffee grounds, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts or va**ng products, fats, grease, or oils (including salad dressing, chocolate, or anything that floats in water), "flushable" wipes, disinfectants, photographic chemicals, pills and unused medication, dental floss, kitty litter, condoms, paper towels, pesticides, paints, varnishes, waste oils, poisons, paint thinners, and other chemical wastes. Use a paper towel to remove/scrape grease, fat, or salad dressing from plates before rinsing them.
5. Launder with care: Fabric softeners and chlorine bleach are not good for septic systems. Use sparingly, if at all. Use minimal detergent and try to spread out laundry loads across the week to avoid too much water going into the system all at once.
Fats, kitty litter, and leaky toilets are some of the main reasons systems fail. Call for service immediately if there is wet, soggy, or especially lush lawn over the leaching field, gurgling pipes, slowed drainage, sewage odors, or sewage backup into the house.
Any questions about why any of these items are harmful to a septic system, please contact the Easton Health Department at 508-230-0620.
This reminder is part of the Town’s commitment to improving stormwater quality under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Any questions about this permit, please contact Deputy Director Gregory Swan at the Easton DPW at 508-230-0802.
