12 Septic-Savvy Tips Every Vancouver Island Homeowner Needs to Know
True Water Septic | Victoria ∙ Langford ∙ Sooke ∙ Saanich ∙ Sidney ∙ Gulf Islands
Living in a rural area or in an unsewered neighbourhood means you’re personally in charge of treating your family’s wastewater — and keeping our beaches, creeks, and wells safe.
The Capital Regional District’s free Septic Savvy program (crd.bc.ca/septic) is hands-down the best plain-English resource out there, and these 12 tips are the ones we share with every customer (and the ones we wish every new client had followed years ago).
Know your system type
Type 1 = Basic treatment using a septic tank and septic field, that may also have a pump.
Type 2 = Basic treatment + a secondary treatment plant
Type 3 = advanced treatment (usually for waterfront or tight lots)
If you don’t know which one you have, dig out your “as-built” drawing or call us — we’ll tell you in five minutes.
2. Find your lids and risers today
Nothing wastes more money than paying a crew to hunt for buried tank lids. Install risers to surface level once and save hundreds every future visit.
3. Pump when the pro says, not “every 5 years”
Some tanks need pumping every 2 years, others every 8. Only an actual inspection tells the truth.4.Effluent filters are your drain field’s best friend
4. We replace or clean more clogged filters than anything else. A filter that’s serviced on time can save a $30,000 field.
5.“Flushable” wipes are never flushable
They’re the #1 reason we get emergency calls in Colwood and Langford. Trash them, don’t flush them — no exceptions.
6. Spread your water use across the week
Doing six loads of laundry on Saturday + everyone showering after the soccer game = hydraulic overload. Your field can’t handle it.
7. Garbage disposals double the solids in your tank
If you have one, move to annual or bi-annual inspections instead of waiting.
8. Keep the drain field naked
No parking, no patios, no trampolines, no new sheds, and definitely no trees or deep-rooted shrubs over the field.
9. Divert roof and driveway runoff.
Rainwater that pours onto the drain field is the fastest way to drown it.
10. Fix leaky toilets immediately
A running toilet can add 50–200 litres a day — enough to saturate the field in weeks.
11. Test your alarm. Press the “test” button monthly. A dead alarm is the same as no alarm.
12. Get on a reminder program
We’ll text or email you when you’re due — for free. Most of our best customers never have to remember a thing.
Want the full Septic Savvy homeowner guide and checklist?
Download it here (one click, no signup): crd.bc.ca/septic
Do these 12 things and your septic system will easily last 30–50 years while keeping our Island waters clean.
Need help with any of them? Give us a call or text at (250) 589-1410 — we’re happy to walk your property and make sure everything is truly savvy.
Here’s to decades of trouble-free flushing,
The True Water Septic Team
