SEPTIC SYSTE/VIS... 



1 6 . If your home is serviced by a septic system, be sure the 

 system is in proper working order. Malfunctioning septic systems 

 can pose health, pollution and contamination problems, particu- 

 larly if they are located near estuaries and inland waterways. 



17. Know the location of all components of your septic 

 system, and keep heavy vehicles away from the system. 



18. Don't plant trees or shrubs near drain lines. Roots can clog 

 them. 



19. Distribute your laundry chores throughout the week to 

 avoid overloading the system on any given day. 



20. Don't use toilets as trash cans. 



21. Have your septic tank inspected each year and pumped 

 out every three to five years to remove solids. 



2 2 . Do not build swimming pools near your septic system. 



23. if you're installing a septic system and encounter soils 

 unsuitable for waste treatment, such as sand or clay, consider 

 alternative septic treatment — the low-pressure pipe and mound 

 waste systems. (Sea Grant has a manual available for designing 

 and installing each system. To receive a copy of either manual, 

 write UNC Sea Grant. Each costs S3. These manuals have allowed 

 thousands of homeowners to install properly working septic 

 systems in areas unsuitable for conventional treatment.) 



INI YOUR YARD... 



24. Landscape with groundcover, trees and shrubs to 

 minimize runoff. Plants help to prevent erosion, moderate summer 

 heat and filter rainwater from downspouts and driveways. 



25. When landscaping, choose permeable surfaces such as 

 wooden decks, porous pavement, bricks or stones rather than 

 solidly paved surfaces to allow for better absorption of water into 

 the soil. 



26. Divert rain from paved surfaces onto grass to permit 

 gradual absorption. 



27". Choose appropriate plants, shrubs, trees and grasses for 

 the soil in your area. Karl Graetz, a renowned coastal horticulturist, 

 says many new beachfront homeowners try to landscape their 

 yards with the same plants, grasses and trees they used at their 

 former inland locations. Many of these plants simply won't survive 

 the more harsh oceanfront environment or require copious 

 amounts of water. It's better, Graetz says, to use native plants. 

 (Consult your local nursery or write to Sea Grant for a copy of 

 Graetz's Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas. The cost is $4.50.) 



28. Test your soil to determine proper applications of 

 fertilizers and lime for your lawn and shrubs. Consider using 



organic fertilizers, such as manure, to boost plant growth and 

 condition your soil. 



29 • Don't overwater your lawn. 



30. Pull weeds instead of using herbicides. 



31. Learn about natural insect controls as alternatives to 

 pesticides. 



32. Use pest-resistant flowers and shrubs whenever possible. 



33. if you use pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, don't 

 throw leftovers in the trash, down your drain or into a storm 

 sewer. Properly dispose of all hazardous waste. 



34 • Compost your leaves and yard debris. Burning them 

 creates air pollution and putting them out with the trash is a waste 

 of landfill space. 



35. Use mulch to conserve water in your garden and around 

 your shrubbery. 



ALONG THE SHORE... 



36. Remove obstructions from your creek, marsh or stream. 



37". Keep people, cars and grazing animals away from the 

 edge of the water. 



38. Avoid heavy loads on the top of stream banks or 

 shorelines. 



39. Control rainfall runoff through proper landscaping or 

 engineered controls. 



40. Plant and protect vegetation on the slopes and adjacent 

 areas of the shoreline. 



41. Consult an engineer about structural solutions for 

 controlling erosion. (Sea Grant's coastal engineer Spencer Rogers 

 has written a how-to booklet for one method of controlling 

 shoreline erosion. A Homeowner's Guide to Estuarine Bulkheads 

 describes how to properly construct a bulkhead for use along 

 estuaries, sounds, bays and tidal rivers. Write to Sea Grant for a 

 copy; the cost is $1. Rogers is also examining another method of 

 shoreline erosion control — breakwater-marsh, which combines 

 small wooden breakwaters with planted marsh grasses. For more 

 information about shoreline erosion controls, call Rogers at 919/ 

 458-5780.) 



ALONG THE BEACH... 



42 . Don't walk or drive on the dunes. Dune vegetation is 

 fragile and can't withstand constant trampling. Foot and vehicle 

 traffic can wear openings in the dunes that weaken their defensive 

 ability against storm erosion. 



12 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1991 



