posted on 9/15/2026
Is your septic system working as it should, and are you using it properly? Is it due for a pump? A significant source of groundwater pollution is from failed septic systems.
Next week is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SepticSmart Week, an annual event to remind septic users of the importance of proper use and maintenance. One in five U.S. homes have septic systems, according to the EPA. In New Hampshire, more than 65 of wastewater is treated by a septic system, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
If your septic system is not properly maintained you may be risking your family’s health, hurting the environment, and flushing thousands of dollars down the drain.
When household wastewater exits the septic system, it seeps into the ground where it joins the groundwater and then travels to our streams, rivers, lakes, and drinking water aquifers. A properly designed and functioning septic system treats this effluent and eliminates harmful bacteria before it leaves the septic system.
Pumping, inspecting and maintaining your septic system will help keep it functioning properly and avoid environmental and financial catastrophes. Regular maintenance will help prevent wastewater from backing up or overwhelming the leach field, which would turn a yard into a soggy, expensive mess. A septic tank pump ranges from $250-$500 and should be done every three to five years. Compare that to a leach field replacement, which may cost upwards of $20,000.
