RELEASE: Proper Septic System Operation and Maintenance Protect Human Health and Idaho’s Water Quality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2026

Contact: Jayson Foley, Senior Onsite Wastewater Analyst, [email protected]

BOISE – Many Idaho households that are not served by public sewers rely on septic systems to treat and dispose of wastewater. Proper operation and maintenance help protect public health, drinking water, groundwater, and surface water.

Idaho SepticSmart Week will be observed September 14-18, 2026, to increase public awareness of the importance of septic system care. Governor Brad Little’s proclamation for Idaho SepticSmart Week calls upon Idahoans to “learn about the importance of septic system maintenance in their community and how proper maintenance of a septic system can protect the health of their family, community, and our precious groundwater and surface water resources.”

To help protect human health and water quality in Idaho, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Public Health Districts offer the following guidance:

• Pump and inspect septic tanks regularly. Septic tanks should be pumped periodically, generally every 3 to 5 years, although the frequency depends on tank size, household use, and solids accumulation. Septic system owners should inspect their tanks annually to ensure that the inlet and outlet baffles are in place, effluent filters are clean, and sludge occupies less than 40% of the tank’s liquid capacity. If sludge levels approach or exceed 40% of the tank’s liquid capacity, the tank should be pumped by a permitted septic tank pumper. In addition, some septic systems may include a second tank containing a pump, pump controls, and screens. These tanks should also be inspected annually to ensure that the pumps, controls, and alarms are functioning properly and that filters and screens are clean.
• Know the signs of septic system failure. While proper use, inspections, and maintenance should prevent most septic tank problems, it is still important to be aware of changes in your septic system and to act immediately if you suspect a system failure. There are many signs of septic system failure:
  • Surfacing sewage or wet areas in the drainfield;
  • Plumbing or septic tank backups;
  • Slow-draining fixtures;
  • Gurgling sounds in the plumbing system;
  • Sewage odors in the house or yard. Note that a plumbing vent on the roof of the house may emit sewage odors, which can be normal; and
  • Tests showing the presence of bacteria in well water.

If you notice any of these signs, or if you suspect your septic tank system may be having problems, contact a licensed septic system professional or your local district health agency for assistance.

• Limit the discharge of organic matter, household cleaners, medications, and garbage to the septic system. Proper operation of a septic system can help prevent costly repairs or replacement and protect groundwater and surface water resources. Septic systems rely on bacteria to break down sludge and provide wastewater treatment. Large amounts of household cleaners or medications may disrupt these bacteria and reduce the system’s ability to break down solids. Household garbage and personal care and hygiene products should not be flushed into the septic system. These materials do not readily break down and may require more frequent septic tank pump-outs or allow solids to carry over into the drainfield, causing clogging and premature failure.
• Use water wisely. Be mindful of how much wastewater your household generates each day. Overloading the septic system may cause hydraulic failure of the drainfield. Conserve water and reduce discharges to the system by using water-efficient appliances and toilets, installing low-flow showerheads, repairing toilet and faucet leaks, running the dishwasher only when full, and spreading laundry loads over several days.

Extended treatment package systems (ETPSs), also known as aerobic treatment units, require periodic operation, maintenance, and monitoring. Idaho requires at least one operation and maintenance event for each ETPS unit annually. To meet the operation, maintenance, and monitoring requirements for their ETPS, property owners may use a DEQ-certified service provider of their choosing.

For more information, visit the following resources:

• DEQ’s Septic and Septage web page
• DEQ’s Technical Guidance Manual for Individual and Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
• EPA’s SepticSmart Week 2026 web page
• Idaho Public Health District Contact web page

About Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

DEQ was created by the Idaho Environmental Protection and Health Act with a mission to protect human health and the quality of Idaho’s air, land, and water. Learn more at https://www.deq.idaho.gov.

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