1. Requests for inspections shall be made the day before the inspection is needed, if possible. Otherwise, the inspection request shall be received between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM the day the inspection is needed. Requests received after 9:00 AM will not be guaranteed a same-day inspection. (Please remember this on Fridays and before holidays.) Contact Environmental Health at (316) 268-8351.

2. Sewage systems shall be left open for inspection as Environmental Health deems necessary. In certain instances requiring special procedures, inspectors may allow partial coverage of a system without an inspection. Such coverage shall be agreed to by the inspector prior to any backfilling.

The Do's and Don'ts of Septic Systems

• Do pump your tank at least every two (2) years, or as often as necessary to prevent the accumilations of solids.

• Do keep all a water wells at least fifty (50) feet of the septic system.

• Do keep edible crops or vegetable gardens at least (10) feet of the septic system.

• Do maintain grass cover over lateral lines.

• Do allow surface water or water from roof downspouts and footing drains to drainaway from the septic system area.

• Do not use septic system "starters" or additives. In addition White Knights and Piranhas are not allowed in the city limits of Wichita.

• Do not locate driveways, allow vehicular traffic, parking lots, concrete slabs, locate trees, sprinkler systems, buildings, above-ground swimming pools, salvage materials, or livestock corrals over tank or lateral lines.

• Do not dispose of chemicals or other household hazardous materials in the septic system.

Septic Tank Abandonment

To abandon a septic tank, the following shall be accomplished:

1. Pump the tank (by a licensed waste hauler), cave in or remove the lid and knock holes in the bottom of the tank to allow for drainage and fill it in with sand or dirt, or

2. Pump the tank (by a licensed waste hauler), remove both the lid and the tank, and fill the hole with fill dirt or sand.

When a tank is abandoned for connection to city sewer, City Engineering or Central Inspection has a form showing tank has been abandoned and connection to sewer made. We ask that a copy of this form be mailed to us and placed in the property file to document abandonment.

Contact the Water Quality Section, Environmental Health, at (316) 268-8351, if you have questions about your septic system.

The Do's and Don'ts of Lagoons

• Do keep all water wells at least one hundred (100) feet away from the lagoon.

• Do maintain a 4' fence, with openings no larger than 4" X 6").

• Do keep at least 3'-5' of water in the lagoon. Be sure to keep the inlet pipe covered with water in freezing weather.

• Do keep the gate locked.

• Do maintain short-rooted grass cover on dikes (such as Bermuda, fescue, or buffalo grass), and mow regularly.

• Do keep weeds out of lagoon and off dikes. (Treat with Copper Sulfate (Cutrine), Reward (Diquat), Rodeo (Aquatic Round-Up) for aquatic weeds.)

• Do not dispose of any hazardous waste or chemicals in the lagoon.

• Do not allow overflow or discharge from the lagoon.

• Do not allow trees or shrubs within fifty feet (50') of lagoon.

• Do not alter established dike slopes.

• Do not allow animals in the lagoon. This includes ducks, geese, goats, dogs, and other animals.

Contact the Water Quality Section, Environmental Health, at (316) 268-8351, if you have questions about your lagoon.

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