Water Conservation and Your Septic System

Extracted text (beginning)

Water 
Conservation 
and Your 
Septic System 
Events
Fact Sheet
Minimizing water use is key to a 
healthy septic system. Low flow 
appliances, water saving devices 
and efficient water-use practices can 
improve the function of your system 
by allowing for a longer separation and 
treatment time. It is also important 
to avoid running multiple water-using 
appliances at the same time or back-
to-back to prevent too much water 
from entering the system over a short 
period of time.
Septic systems are designed to hold 
wastewater long enough to allow 
solids to settle to the bottom of the 
tank forming a sludge layer and oil 
and grease to float to the top 
forming a scum layer. If too much 
water is flowing into the septic tank, 
wastewater is pushed out into the 
drainfield before this separation 
process has time to occur. 
Solids pushed out into the drainfield 
and can cause pipes and soils to 
become clogged. This can be expensive 
to fix. Minimizing water use improves 
the effectiveness of your system and 
extends the life of the system. 
Following efficient water-use practices 
is especially important if you have an 
older septic system. Older systems 
were designed when people used less 
water, meaning if your system is older 
it may be under capacity compared to 
today’s standards. 
Tips for Conserving Water
Retrofitting your home for water 
efficiency is easy. New technology 
allows huge reductions in water 
use with the same or better 
performance than older technology. 
Install low flow showerheads and 
faucets and replace older, water-
guzzling toilets and appliances with 
more water efficient versions. 
Unnecessary water use can also 
add up to large volumes and is 
totally avoidable. Ensure that toilets 
and faucets aren’t leaking and when 
performing simple tasks such as 
brushing teeth and doing dishes, 
make sure to turn the tap off.
Check for Leaks
Check for leaks. High volume water leaks often come from toilets. They can be 
hard to detect and are usually caused by worn or misaligned parts. A toilet that 
continues to run after flushing could be wasting 20-40 litres of water per hour. 
To check for a toilet leak, place a dye tablet or food colouring in the toilet tank. 
Wait about 15 minutes, without flushing, and then check the water in your toilet 
bowl. If the water is coloured, you’ve 
got a leak. Toilet repairs may require 
the assistance of a plumber.
24% Toilet
20% Shower
19% Faucet
17% Clothes Washer
12% Leak
  4% Other
*
  3% Bath
  1% Dishwasher
Breakdown of 
Indoor Water Use
*The “Other” category includes evaporative cooling, 
humidification, water softening, and other uncategorized 
indoor uses.

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