Infographic created by the US EPA to illustrate the seven SepticSmart Tips. A diagram of a home and the septic system and private well system outside of it show where each of the seven tips is applicable. The tips are: Shield your field, Don't overload the commode, Think at the sink, Keep it clean, Don't strain your drain, Pump your tank, and Protect it and inspect it.

Reviewing the SepticSmart Quick Tips, Part 1

ByLaura Schultz

SepticSmart Week 2026 may be over, but the time for septic system owners and operators to be SepticSmart is always. Each year during SepticSmart Week, various organizations flood social media with instructions and advice on the seven EPA-established SepticSmart Quick Tips for every day of the week. Of course, guidance on these tips is always available at the US EPA’s septic system resource portal. But these tips and principles are so essential that we will be taking the chance to break them down in this month’s blog posts too! 

This blog post covers Tips #1-3 (Think at the Sink!, Don’t Strain Your Drain, and Keep It Clean!). Check back next week for Tips #4-7 to be covered in Part 2. 

Think at the Sink!

US EPA educational graphic for the SepticSmart Quick Tip "Think at the Sink." Text reads "What goes down your drain has a big impact on your septic system Avoid harsh chemicals and use cleaners/detergents in moderation. Learn more at www.epa.gov/septic"

Think at the Sink means knowing what not to put down a kitchen sink that is connected to a septic system: mainly fats, oils, and greases (or FOG, which should not go down sinks connected to a sewer system, either!); food waste; disposable wipes; and certain chemical ingredients in cleaning supplies. 

FOG, food waste, and unsafe chemicals can have a large impact on a septic system. Even chemicals found in common household cleaners and detergents, while generally safe for a septic system, are often better used only in moderation. 

For more from us on how to Think at the Sink, check out some of our other posts:

Don’t Strain Your Drain

US EPA educational graphic for the SepticSmart Quick Tip "Don't Strain Your Drain." Text reads "Use water efficiently and stagger use of water-based appliances (such as a washing machine) to avoid a back up of you septic system into your house. Learn more at www.epa.gov/septic"

Not straining your drain is about the importance of water efficiency. In a residence with a septic system, the best ways to optimize efficiency include staggering the use of water-based appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, showers, etc) and to use energy efficient appliances where possible. Overuse of these appliances can lead to a septic system back up into the home.

For more on Don’t Strain Your Drain, check out some of our other posts:

Keep It Clean!

US EPA educational graphic for the SepticSmart Quick Tip "Keep It Clean." Text reads "If you have a well, many things can contaminate your drinking water, such as a failing septic system. Test your well water regularly! Learn more at www.epa.gov/septic"

The majority of residential properties with a septic system also use a private well system for drinking water. Testing well water regularly is always important, but when there is a septic system nearby, it becomes even more essential. Failing septic systems can be dangerous sources of contamination for wells. 

Understanding the relationship between septic systems and private wells is key to helping homeowners keep their groundwater clean, which keeps their families and the surrounding environment healthy and safe.

For more on Keep It Clean, check out these pages: