How do I Manage Wastewater Treatment Cost?

You can help manage wastewater treatment cost in a variety of ways. Start by cutting back on water usage and preventing rain water from entering the sewer system. You can also make sure all of your plumbing is in good condition to prevent any additional debris from entering a septic system. This may mean updating old pipes and having your system serviced regularly.

One way you can help reduce wastewater treatment cost is by controlling the amount of water you use on a daily basis. Water from sinks, washing machines, dish washers, toilets, and showers all enter the city sewer system. If the faucet is allowed to run while you brush your teeth or between rinsing dishes, extra water enters the system that does not need to be treated. When extra water is treated unnecessarily, treatment plants have to work harder. This will eventually result in higher utility bills for everyone.

In addition to turning off the sink when not in use and only watering your lawn when necessary, you can cut down on wastewater treatment cost by making sure your plumbing fixtures and pipes are in good working order. A leaky faucet can add more water than you think to the overall amount being treated. You will also lower your overall utility bill by fixing leaks, because the less water you use, the lower your bill.

Another way to lower wastewater treatment cost is one that many homeowners wouldn't think of. You may have areas in your plumbing system that may allow rainwater to enter the sewer system. These can include floor drains, sump pumps, gutters, yard drains, or French drains. Just as in water running from your home, this extra water can add millions of extra gallons to the treatment facility's load.

To remedy rain water runoff, be sure all of the aforementioned trouble spots run away from the sewer lines and into the street to be carried off by city storm drains. These drains are entirely separate from the sewer system and do not add to wastewater treatment cost. If you have trouble rerouting the pipes, contact a professional plumber for help.

There are also things you can do to prevent maintenance to a septic system that has a built-in filtration system. As with those who use the sewer system, you should be sure to run water only when necessary. Not only can septic tanks become full when water is run too quickly, but you may end up with problems with your filtration system if it becomes overloaded. Water may not be filtered as efficiently as it should be, and you could end up with costly repairs.