386 receive septic pumping reminders

NORTH JACKSON — The District Board of Health has mailed pumping reminders to 386 Jackson township residents with septic systems.

“There is no law that requires homeowners to get their septic tanks pumped,” said Matthew Stefanak, Mahoning County health commissioner. “But reminding homeowners to get their septic systems serviced regularly can save them thousands of dollars in repair costs.”

According to health board records, 805 township households rely on septic systems to treat their sewage.

Septic tanks should be pumped at different intervals, depending on household size and water usage.

A four-person household with a 1,000-gallon septic tank should have its septic tank pumped every three years. Homeowners will receive a pumping interval recommendation and a list of licensed pumpers with their reminder letter.

Pumpers notify the board when they pump a septic tank, and the board uses this information to keep track of when a septic system was last pumped.

The health board reminder program, started in 1997, has prompted thousands of county homeowners to do preventive maintenance on their septic systems, board officials said.

More information about preventing water pollution from household sewage disposal systems can be found on the Health Reports/Advisories page of the District Board of Health Web site at www.mahoning-health.org.