Septic Tank Pumping Schedule
Use less water, reduce the work on the septic system. Also, try to even out the timing of water consumption. Examples, do laundry throughout the week instead of all at once; use flow reducer nozzles on showers; install water-conserving commodes.
Keep trees at least 100 feet away from the septic system. Trees with aggressive roots, such as willows, should be planted even farther away. Tree roots can ruin a septic system.
Table I. Septic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years |
||||||||||
. | Household size - Number of Occupants | |||||||||
. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Tank-Gallons | Septic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years | |||||||||
500* | 5.8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | -- |
750* | 9.1 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
900 | 11.0 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
1000 | 12.4 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
1250 | 15.6 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
1500 | 18.9 | 9.1 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
1750 | 22.1 | 10.7 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
2000 | 25.4 | 12.4 | 8.0 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
2250 | 28.6 | 14.0 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
2500 | 30.9 | 15.6 | 10.2 | 7.5 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.6 |