Due to the cold weather and lack of snow some residents have found problems with their septic systems. Environmental Health Division Supervisor Hank Schreifels for Stearns County Environmental Services says this is due to individual sewage treatment systems freezing.

Stearns County Environmental Services suggests calling an onsite professional to help combat frozen septic systems.  They note that the pumpers and installers used have steamers and high-pressure jetters to unfreeze system piping.

Stearns County Environmental Services also offers a number of tips to help prevent sceptic systems from freezing in the future that include:

• Stop mowing the grass over a drain field in early fall in order to let the grass grow stronger to trap more snow
•  Don’t add antifreeze to the system.
• Making sure all risers, inspection pipes and manholes have tight covers.

You can see the complete list of tips here.