In recognition of Septic Smart Week, Sept. 18-24, San Juan Basin Public Health urges septic tank users to keep these guidelines in mind:

Septic maintenance helps people stay healthy, avoid costly repairs, maintain property values and protect local water sources.Think at the sink: avoid rinsing coffee grounds or pouring grease down the drain.Don’t overload the commode: toilets are not trash cans. Flushing non-degradable products can clog a system or cause failure.For more tips, visit www.epa.gov/septic.