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To keep your septic tank healthy, be careful of what you flush and be conservative with water usage, as even flushing too much water down the drain can throw off the septic system’s delicate balance. Never flush anything but human waste and toilet paper down your toilet, and be sure to have the tank inspected and pumped every two to five years, depending on the size of your household and your water usage.

You should never pour antifreeze down the drain or outside on the ground. Because it's highly toxic, antifreeze can still impact people and animals long after it drains. Antifreeze can contaminate water and sewage systems, and any that gets into storm drains and water supplies can attract animals and harm those that ingest it.

Depending on the home, wastewater either goes into a septic tank and seeps back into the backyard or is sent via sewer system to a local sewage-treatment plant. Septic systems naturally separate different components of the waste so that it can naturally and safely disperse it. They are usually reserved for homes not served by a municipal sewage department (like rural homes). A treatment plant, on the other hand, speeds up that process through screening and purification.

Cesspools do not have an outlet or discharge area, so they must be emptied regularly. A professional cesspool cleaning company should come at least every six weeks and empty the contents. If it’s not emptied, it can begin to overflow sewage waste onto your property.