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MMINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY www.pca.state.mn.us What to do with your septic system during a flood This factsheet is intended for property owners served. by subsurface sewage treatment systems (55T5 or septic systems) on what to do before, during and after a flood. Prevention what can I do.if I any in a flood prone area well in advance of flood?. • Have.a licensed plumber install a backflow preventer on the waste pipe leaving your home so sewage. cannot backup into your home. during a flood. A backflow preventer is. recommended as the. re is some concern a simple check valve may not close properly and sewage may still back-up into the. home.. • Ensure. all inspection.caps are.1n place. Threaded caps can be installed and pipes cut flush with the ground. Immediately prior What can I do immediately prior to a flooding event? • if the building sewer has a.backflow preventer; nothing further needs to be done. • If the backfiow preventer is a manual valve, ensure it is shut. • If the tank does not have a backflow preventer;. it may be desirable to pump the tank to remove the sewage, but the tank must be properly anchored. Pumping immediately prior to flooding is not mandatory. If pumped, some sewage so.lids .wi11 remain in the tank.and could mix with any floodwaters that enter the tank. It may be advantageous to block any lower level drains in the dwelling to prevent back up: • Make plans to minimize water use or flushing of toilets during the actu a 1. floodi ng event. During What should l do. during the flood if the system is covered with water? • Do not use the system. Turn off watersofteners to prevent them from regeneration. Turn off all the system's electric devices (pumps, alarms, etc.) • If you. are using water from a flooded well, it may be contaminated. Contact a well. professional or your county about. a water test, After Once the flood waters.remde, when can I.use my system again? Do not use the system until., The soil has adequately dried to allow sewage to be absorbed and not back-up. This may take several. weeks. You should try to. conserve.water until the system. is completely dry. • All tanks have been checked to see if.they contain floodwaters. If so, the tanks should. be pumped to keep the silt particles from entering the soil System, If the tanks have not been anchored, do not. pump until the water level in the soil is below the tank. Effluent screens (if any) are cleaned. aer3-16 March 2020 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. • 520 Lafayette Rd. N., St. Paul, MN 55155A194 www:pca.state.mn.u.s 651-296-6300 • 800-657-3864 • TTY 651-282-5332 or 800-657-3864 • AvaIiable In alternative formats