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While abandoning a tank without treating it and following strict rules is illegal, there are several other ways to dispose of an old septic tank. One standard method is to pump out and crush the tank where it rests and bury it in the soil. Another is to remove it and transport it to a landfill. Finally, if abandonment is the best option, your contractor must pump out the tank and fill it with inert material, such as sand or concrete, depending on local regulations.

The best times of year to empty or pump a septic tank are spring and fall. Many professionals recommend spring because the ground has thawed, making the tank easier to access and the waste less likely to be frozen. Pumping before summer also helps avoid conflicts with vacations or outdoor gatherings. Fall is another great option, as contractors may be less busy, and servicing the tank can reduce the risk of overflow from winter and spring precipitation. While summer is also a suitable time, winter is generally not recommended due to frozen ground.

You can cover a septic tank riser with dirt, but it’s not always the best idea. If you have a plastic riser and you bury it, you can easily lose track of it since you won’t be able to find it with a metal detector. Make sure to clearly note where your rise is in your yard so that you’re able to access it easily the next time you or a septic pro needs it. Don’t bury the cover too deep or you could place too much stress on it and make it too difficult to access in the future.

While you can drain water softener backwash into a septic tank, doing so may cause several problems. One problem is that increased sodium chloride levels from water softener backwash can kill septic tank bacteria, decreasing the effectiveness of this wastewater treatment system. Another issue is that large calcium deposits can eventually stop up the drain field and lead to poor drainage.