What Arizona Septic Owners Need to Know (And I Learned the Hard Way!)

I’ll admit it: I’ve been guilty of treating our septic system the way I would treat a regular sewer. I guess we’ve been lucky, because essentially, it’s been out of sight, out of mind.

And it worked—right up until it didn’t. I won’t go into excruciating detail, but when our septic system began to back up into our shower, we knew there was a problem. That bad drain quickly turned into a very expensive lesson. If you’re on septic anywhere in Arizona, trust me when I tell you what you flush matters. I hope you don’t find out the hard way.

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What You Flush Matters More Than You Think

Here’s what we learned: your septic system is essentially a living ecosystem. It relies on bacteria to break down waste, and those bacteria are surprisingly easy to mess up.

You really have to be conscious about what gets flushed into the system, because only human waste and toilet paper belong in there. “Flushable Wipes” are not—flushable, that is. As we watched the technicians pull them out of the pipes, we saw, without a doubt, that they do not belong in your tank.

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That’s not all. You need to keep grease, coffee grounds, medications, cleaning chemicals, and other items away from your tank. They’re all troublemakers that can clog pipes or kill helpful bacteria, according to  The Septic Guide website.

READ ALSO: Never Flush These Things if You Have a Septic Tank

How Often Should You Pump?

The EPA says it’s best to follow this rule of thumb: pump out your system every 3 to 5 years for most households. In Arizona, where heat, soil, and usage patterns can speed things up, many homes lean closer to every 3 years.

Trust me on this: an ounce of prevention can keep your home away from a very expensive lesson.

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How To Actually Take Care Of It

The EPA advises regular inspections, efficient water use, and proper waste disposal. That means throwing it in the trash, rather than flushing it down the drain. Oh, and protect your leachfield. Watch for plants and trees that might “volunteer” nearby in the rich, loamy field, and remove them before they can work their way into your pipe and drains.

Also, keep an eye out for leaks and fix them fast. One running toilet can dump hundreds of extra gallons into your system daily.

READ ALSO: Can You Legally Put a Tiny Home in Your Cochise County Backyard?

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Do Those Enzyme Additives Work?

If you’re wondering about those preventative enzymes you see in the hardware store, the ones that claim to keep your septic system healthy, the EPA says save your money. They don’t really work.

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The EPA says septic systems already contain the bacteria they need, and that additives are unnecessary and could actually do more harm than good.

It’s better to save that bottle of “miracle enzymes”; they won’t save you. Regular pumping will.