How do I keep my septic healthy?
In one word: Maintenance. That means be careful what you put into it, get regular inspections, and pump the tank when needed, typically every 3-5 years depending upon how many people are using it and what they are putting into it.
What can and can’t go into a septic system? Toilet paper only — nothing else. No food, grease or strong chemicals down the drain either. Essentially, nothing that will clog it or kill beneficial bacteria. Use a strainer in the kitchen sink to catch all food debris.
Your system has a maximum capacity. Too many showers or loads of laundry in a short period of time, or too many people using a system meant for a smaller household can overwhelm it. How often to inspect? You can learn to inspect parts of your system yourself, but King County requires periodic detailed professional inspections at intervals based on Washington State health codes. Washington State inspection requirements depend on the type of septic system you have.
For a good overview about how to care for your septic:
Caring for Your Septic System | Washington State Department of Health
What you plant matters
Native, shallow-rooted plants (grasses, meadow flowers, groundcovers) work well for planting over drainfields. Avoid trees and deep-rooted plants, and no hydrophytic (water-loving) plants — especially Aspen, poplar, willow, elm, beech, ash, tulip, walnut and eucalyptus — since roots can extend well past the width of the tree canopy .
Here are some more suggestions:
Landscaping Your Septic System | Washington Sea Grant
Who are the septic system service providers on Vashon?
Greentree Dozing (206-463-3889) offers inspection, septic system installation - new & replacement
Niece Pumping (206-463-5969) offers pumping, inspections, routine maintenance, referrals to other professionals for larger repairs.
Both Niece and Greentree offer operations & maintenance agreements, which are arrangements for a regular maintenance schedule.
If you’re looking beyond Vashon, check out this list of King County Certified On-Site System Maintainers (OSM).
Who can design a new septic system?
There are no septic designers who live on Vashon. King County provides a list of septic designers:
According to Niece Pumping, the designers they see most often are:
Michael Cooper 253-576-5937 cooperconsultinginc@gmail.com
Brad Davis 425-248-1140
Jeff Amman 360-794-7809 jeffamman@gmail.com
Rocky Anderson 253-850-3242 or 253-203-1200