New Year's Resolutions, PZ Style!

What would a New Year's sewer resolution look like anyway one might ask? The answer is simple for Prohibition Zone residents (and anyone on a septic system, in the Zone or not) and the answer is supported by each of our bottom lines: Be more kind to your septic tank! Unless you have replaced yours, and, as septic tanks have a 25-30 year lifespan, you might want to be very, very careful as no houses were built in the PZ since 1987, you do the math!

PZers, you DO NOT want to replace or repair your tank or your leach field/pit if you do not have to before 2016 when we start using our brand new sewer system, as that would not be cost effective!

Our wastewater system is barreling ahead toward our eventual personal hook-ups. We are over three-quarters done with the collection system and the project treatment plant contract will be awarded in January and the estimate for completion is 24 months. The pump stations will be complete in early 2015. So to have to spend any money on the present systems that will be abandoned in 2016, makes no dollars or cents, sense, or, ugh, scents.

If you aren't already, do the simple steps below:

• Don't overload your system
• Don't drive over or park on your system
• Don't pour cooking grease, paints, oils, pesticides, solvents, drain cleaners, other household or automotive chemicals into your drains
• Don't flush diapers, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, condoms, kitty litter, coffee grounds, dental floss, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, paper towels, hair or Kleenex (can you add to that list)?
• Pumping/Inspection. Times vary. Some pump every two or three years, some haven't pumped for 30 and everything still works. Inspections are supposed to be done every 2-3 years. Well, let your conscience be your guide, or you can read about what the EPA says to do here.

Personally, we stopped using our garbage disposal as well. Granted, it broke, but we did not replace it in the kitchen remodel. But we have a vacant electrical switch for 2016, just in case. (I know I should do a compost heap but I don't. I would be a bad parent, best not to create one!)

*

Well, that about does it! Have a safe and sane night on the 31st! All my best wishes to you readers for a Happy 2014 in all your endeavors, sewer or otherwise!

*My eternal gratitude to Don Bearden for providing the community a real tank to view so we could see what we don't see buried in our yards. And this is the pristine view, before burial and use. (There are also concrete models and—shudder—really really old redwood models and—worse—55-gallon drum models, right here in our town.....)