By Eileen Alexander

City dwellers homes are most likely connected to the municipal sewer system. Waste from toilets, and water from sinks, showers and washing machines go into the system and you pay a fee to the city to use the system based on certain factors like water consumption.

It's a different story if you live in a rural area, where septic tanks and leach fields are the common receptacles for the waste and water that is produced by each home.

If you've never previously lived in a home with a septic system, you might not be aware of the do's and don'ts of caring for one. And even homeowners who are familiar with septic systems sometimes need a reminder of how to care for them. Septic systems are expensive to install, but proper maintenance can prolong their life.

"I'm constantly educating people on the use of their system," says Adrian Dutkewych of White's Septic Service in Jefferson. "The thing I tell people most often is to stop flushing wipes and grease down their drains. The biggest culprits (to a malfunctioning system) are baby wipes and cleaning wipes. Even if they say flushable they don't belong in a septic system. Grease and oils tend to accumulate in the line and in the tank which can clog it."

The only things going into a septic system, Adrian says, are human waste, toilet paper and water. He advises maintaining the septic system on a regular schedule, based on usage. Individuals who own short term rental property, like an Airbnb, should arrange for an annual pumping. A single family home generally does well if the system is pumped every two to three years unless it's a very old system and then he recommends annual pumping.

How Does It Work?

Typically, household wastewater drains into the septic tank where solids sink to the bottom and microbial action breaks down the toilet paper and waste into a layer of sludge. Floatable solids like grease, oil and fat collect at the top of the tank in a scum layer. The septic tank's components allow the dirty water to flow out of the tank into the leach field (a series of perforated pipes placed underground), but keep the sludge and scum in the tank.

The liquid in the leach field percolates through the layers of soil where aerobic bacteria and minerals in the soil break down the material.

Periodically, the sludge in the tank needs to be removed, and that's when you call in a septic service for pumping and cleaning.

"The septic system is an important part of your home," says Scott Lamprey, owner of Lamprey Suburban Septic, Inc. in Moultonborough. "Routine pumping of the tank is imperative in maintaining the integrity and longevity of not only the system itself but the leaching area as well."

In addition to keeping flushable wipes, oils and grease, and feminine products out of your septic system, Scott cautions against driving over it, or building or planting anything on your leach field, and stay away from using septic tank additives as they are not usually good for the system.

Regularly scheduled maintenance is usually enough to keep a septic system in good working order. Some of the signs to look for that the septic tank needs to be pumped include slow draining sinks, tubs and toilets, or a toilet that gurgles or needs extra flushes.

Both Scott and Adrian offer video inspection services, which can be particularly useful if a homeowner is experiencing problems or when someone is purchasing a new home or prepping their home to sell it as the inspection provides a detailed assessment of the condition of the tank, pipes and leach field.

White's Septic serves customers in most of northern New Hampshire, while Lamprey's customers hail from the central and eastern region of the state. Both serve both residential and commercial customers.

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Eileen Alexander is a New Hampshire native, who made a short detour through North Carolina before returning to the Granite State. She has a yen for old homes with character, colorful flower gardens and expansive mountain views.