While many homeowners rely on the city sewage system to take away waste, other homeowners have septic tanks, which handle the waste without the help of the city. If you have kids or pets, you should follow a few tips that protect your family and the septic system. If you would like to know more, check out these three septic system tips.

1. Watch What Flushes Down the Toilet

Anyone can accidentally drop something into the toilet, but kids may purposely put items in the toilet that can cause issues, such as toys. Naturally, these can clog the toilet, but if they do make it to the septic system, they get stuck there and can't decompose. Similarly, if your kid flushes excess toilet paper or paper towels for fun, your tank could get too full too fast.

In addition, if you have young kids, you may use wet wipes instead of toilet paper. Even if these say they are flushable, do not flush them down the toilet, as they can clog the system. They may also take longer to break down. If you have older female children, make sure they understand not to flush their used tampons and pads.

With pets, you are directly responsible for what goes down the toilet. For example, if you have a cat with a litter box, you may want to flush the waste down the toilet. However, the system may not be able to handle the unique parasites in animal waste. As a result, these parasites can get into the groundwater.

Plus, the litter on the cat waste can stick in the system and sit there, as it cannot break down. Since kitty litter forms clumps, it can also cause clogs in the drains and pipes.

2. Be Mindful About Play Areas 

When you have kids and pets, know exactly where the septic system is to prevent problems. Typically, your kids and pets can play on the drainfield without worrying about puddles and unpleasant odors. However, you do not want to build anything such as a fort, playhouse, or doghouse on top of the septic tank or the drainfield.

First, the weight of the structure could cause direct structural damage to the system, such as causing a crack. If the structure is installed over the drainfield, it can compact the soil, making it hard for the soil to naturally absorb the water. This may lead to pools of effluent. If damage occurs to the septic tank, your kids may end up playing in smelly, wet waste.

3. Secure the Septic Tank 

An unsecured septic tank can be a danger for adults, but septic tanks are particularly dangerous for kids and pets. Both may be clumsy or not know the danger and fall into the tank. You should not go into the tank yourself to rescue them so you will have to call emergency services unless you have a breathing device. The air alone in the septic tank could make it hard to breathe.



Ideally, you need to keep the tank well secured, which means ensuring you have a sturdy lid that your kids cannot open themselves. If the tank needs opening for any reason, keep kids and pets inside or in another part of the yard.

Septic systems are a common solution for household waste. If you have a septic system, keep your kids and pets safe from it while also preventing them from causing damage to the system. If you would like help with your septic system, contact us at Dr. Flush today. We look forward to answering all your questions about septic systems.