The previous owners had it pumped out in May.  The septic guy that pumped it out was the one I talked to for advice on whether it was ok and for how to maintain it.  Because of the lid being in two pieces, he said most lenders wouldn't allow it in this county.  It's my guess that the pumping it got in May was because someone had made an offer and it was part of the inspection process.  And then when they found out the lender would force them to replace it, they passed. 

This septic tank guy is pretty well known in the area and he has a good reputation.  He told me it looked like they were using an "awful lot of water", which turned out to be runoff water during rain storms.  That was corrected by us right after we moved in, by filling in the low places in the yard from which the water was flowing out over the septic tank, and then by putting gutters and downspouts on the house to eliminate all the roof run-off that was happening there. 

We've not had any trouble since we moved in, which was early July.  Of course, it's been dry here, and I've been using bathtub and washing machine water to water trees and transplanted things so I might have a false sense of security here. 

It seems like everyone has a different opinion with what you should and shouldn't do.  The septic guy said not to flush toilet paper because no matter whether it says "septic safe", all toilet paper has some cotton fiber in it and that works its way into the laterals and clogs them up.  Apparently same for wash water, especially since most of today's clothes are synthetics and that stuff never breaks down.  A drain filter is recommended for the washer but I have no clue where to get one or where to install it, and wouldn't that make your drain back up if you weren't really diligent about cleaning it out before each use?  I've talked to people I know in the area who have septic tanks and they say they always flush their toilet paper and they don't have a filter on their washer drain and they've used their tanks trouble free for years and years without even having to pump it out.  So I'm confused.  I'm not exactly crazy about not flushing the paper.  Used paper in the trash is not real attractive. 

The septic guy did recommend a tablespoon of regular baking yeast and a cup of brown sugar flushed every month, but I think if you don't use strong laundry products or lots of bleach it would be ok without it.  The kids who sold us the house left behind a plastic tub of "Roto-Rooter", which is mostly just yeast.  Doesn't look like it has anything in it that's made to deal with tree roots.  And right now the health of the laterals and that willow tree right there is my biggest concern.  Has anyone dealt with tree roots in the laterals successfully?  I know willows have a reputation for seeking out water and getting into sewer lines in town, I hate to think what they're doing to the laterals.

I have read online that you shouldn't use a garbage disposal.  This house has one but I don't use it as all my kitchen vegetable waste goes to the compost and meat-type waste either goes to the dog, gets rendered into fat, or gets burned into ashes with the paper trash and then to the compost.  I'm sure the kids who lived here before used the disposal, though as they were computer techs and spent most of their time on the computer.  No garden.  No flowers.  No compost bin. 

Maybe as time wears on and I get used to having a septic I will feel more comfortable with it.  –Ilene