Happy New Year! I have a resolution suggestion. Resolve to get your septic tank cleaned on a regular basis. While a growing number of lake residents are on a municipal or community system and do not have this worry, the large majority of lake residents still rely on a septic system for their sewage disposal. A properly maintained system does a great job in treating waste, but a neglected one can be a very dangerous source of pollution to our treasured Alabama Lake. 

Septic systems have come a long way since being just a large concrete tank set in the ground with a gravity overflow to some gravel-lined trenches. Modern systems will have multiple chambers, often with an aeration chamber, to improve treatment efficiency. The waste may then flow to a holding tank before being pumped to field lines for final treatment as it is absorbed into the soil. Whatever type of system you have, it requires periodic maintenance.