All homes in Westford Fire District #1 share one of two community septic systems. The townhouse septic system is located in the field below the hill in back of the townhouses. The remainder of homes share a septic system located at the bottom of North Road.
Our septic systems are fully inspected every year by a state-certified engineer and a report is sent to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to maintain our General Permit for Indirect Discharges of Sewage.
Our septic system was installed when the neighborhood was first developed in the mid '70's, and despite its age, it continues to function extremely well. In order to maintain this success, it is incumbent upon all homeowners to practice conscientious system usage . This requires that everyone know and follow proper septic system practices.
Everything you put, pour, or flush down your drains or toilets goes directly into our septic system and must be processed. Every septic system requires a delicate balance of factors to function properly. System failure can occur if this balance is not maintained.
To avoid expensive repairs or a potential total system failure, we have prepared a list of septic system reminders. Please print this list for future reference and ensure everyone in your household has a chance to read it. If you have young children, please explain it to them as well.
In the event of a community septic system problem, you will be notified by WFD #1 in a timely fashion. If you experience a problem exclusively at your house, the problem will most likely be located in your internal drain plumbing or the pipe which leads from your house to the sewer system. In this event please contact your preferred service professional.
If you have any questions, please contact R.J. Moore or Randy Devine. Contact info may be found here.
Our septic systems are fully inspected every year by a state-certified engineer and a report is sent to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to maintain our General Permit for Indirect Discharges of Sewage.
Our septic system was installed when the neighborhood was first developed in the mid '70's, and despite its age, it continues to function extremely well. In order to maintain this success, it is incumbent upon all homeowners to practice conscientious system usage . This requires that everyone know and follow proper septic system practices.
Everything you put, pour, or flush down your drains or toilets goes directly into our septic system and must be processed. Every septic system requires a delicate balance of factors to function properly. System failure can occur if this balance is not maintained.
To avoid expensive repairs or a potential total system failure, we have prepared a list of septic system reminders. Please print this list for future reference and ensure everyone in your household has a chance to read it. If you have young children, please explain it to them as well.
In the event of a community septic system problem, you will be notified by WFD #1 in a timely fashion. If you experience a problem exclusively at your house, the problem will most likely be located in your internal drain plumbing or the pipe which leads from your house to the sewer system. In this event please contact your preferred service professional.
If you have any questions, please contact R.J. Moore or Randy Devine. Contact info may be found here.
Septic System Reminders
Know what you can and cannot release into a septic system:
Please remember that a community septic system relies on every household to follow these guidelines.
- Every gallon of water entering the septic system flows into our tanks and must be processed. Minimizing peak loading of the water supply system and by extension, the septic system, can extend the life of our system and distribute the loading on our shared water resource.
- Roof, cellar (sump pumps), or footing drains are not permitted to empty into the sewer or septic system.
- Conserve water. Fix all leaks and drips, even a small leak can cause hundreds of extra gallons to flow into the septic system. Replace old fixtures with "low flow" products.
- Early morning and bedtime are peak water use times. Run dishwashers and washing machines at other times of the day. Don't do all the laundry in one day. Try to do laundry on weekdays, if possible, not just on weekends when septic use is at its peak. Replace aging dishwashers and washing machines with water saving models.
- If you use a water softener or a freshwater purification system please consult with a professional about alternative draining. These appliances do not need to drain into the septic system.
Know what you can and cannot release into a septic system:
- The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are human waste-water and toilet paper.
- Remember the 4 P's of flushing: Poop, Pee, Puke & toilet Paper only!
- During recent inspections, there has been a need to clean out sewer lines running from some homes, something we’ve never had to do before. This is due to the increasing use of “flushable wipes”. These wipes, as recently reported by Consumer Reports, do not break down rapidly and can clog pipes. Use of this product has increased our annual maintenance expense and threatens our system. If you use this product please dispose of them in the trash as you would a diaper or sanitary napkin. Please do not flush them into our septic system.
- Paper towels, medications, tissues, cigarette butts, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, baby wipes, dental floss, plastics, hair, animal fur, and other such materials should be disposed in a trash can. These items do not degrade well and can clog the septic system pipes resulting in system failure - NEVER FLUSH THESE ITEMS!
- Avoid using a garbage disposal and do not dump coffee grounds in the sink. Do not flush kitty litter. Increasing the load of solids into the tank decreases the capacity and shortens the interval between pumping's. Septic tank pumping is expensive for public systems, additional pumping is costly to all of us.
- Do not pour fats and oils down the drain. They can build up and clog the septic tank pipes.
- Never add any commercial septic system products. Additives do not improve how well the system works. There are always plenty of natural bacteria available to do the job. In fact, additives can damage the system by breaking up the sludge and scum layers, causing them to flush out of the tank and clog the infiltration bed. It is ok to use normal amounts of detergents, bleaches, household cleaners and other products approved for septic system use. Do not use drain cleaners, instead employ non-chemical methods to unclog a drain such as boiling water, a plunger or a drain cleanout snake.
- Never dump solvents like dry cleaning fluid, pesticides, any type of paint, varnish, paint thinner, gasoline, oil or other auto products, toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, antibacterial soap, or other such items down the drain. Septic systems require bacteria to decompose waste. If the bacteria are destroyed by chemicals, the system will fail.
Please remember that a community septic system relies on every household to follow these guidelines.
| US EPA Homeowner's Guide To Septic Systems |