What every homeowner should know about septic services and maintenance

What is a sewage system?

A private sewage system typically consists of:

A watertight septic tank for receiving untreated household waste and a subsurface absorption area of stone filled trenches to dispose of the wastewater. The septic tank allows heavy solids to settle out and decompose slowly and the septic tank is then distributed underground through the series of trenches consisting of perforated pipes surrounded by stone. This allows distribution of the liquid into the soil where treatment of the wastewater occurs through bacterial action in the soil.

How does my septic system work?

The treatment system must be designed to accept the maximum anticipated wastewater flow from the home. When flow quantities have been established other design features such as soil types, depth to seasonal water table, slope of the land, isolation distances from water supplies and water bodies, such as streams and lakes, must all be factored into the equation. Land with heavy clay soils, poor drainage, or steep slopes limit the suitability of a site for an onsite wastewater treatment system. If these conditions are severe, non-conventional septic systems such as pump assisted systems or elevated sand mounds, may be required.

Minimum design criteria are established by state law and enforced by your health department. The state rule establishes minimum requirements based on existing site conditions. The health department recommends that minimums be considered as a starting point and encourages homeowners to install additional absorption areas to ensure adequate sewage treatment.

What if my septic system fails?

A failing septic system is an inconvenience, a nuisance and a costly repair problem. When wastewater is allowed to pool in yard or is backing up into the house, a health hazard exists that increases the potential for disease transmission. Domestic sewage may contain several diseases such as dysentery, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, and other infectious organisms. Ponded sewage creates a breeding place for mosquitos and other insects including those, which transmit West Nile Virus. An animal coming in contact with sewage not only is susceptible to certain diseases, but may also transmit the disease to humans. Failing systems, in general, are no longer adequately treating waste materials, increasing the potential for surface and ground water contamination with bacteria and/or chemicals.

How can I help maintain my septic system?

The onsite wastewater treatment system is based upon maximum anticipated water usage. This is called design daily flow and is expressed in gallons per day.

Practicing water conservation is very important to prolonging the life of the absorption system. Prompt repair of leaks and the installation of appliances and fixtures, which use less water, contribute to conservation. A faulty flush valve in a toilet tank or dripping faucet can add hundreds of gallons of excess water over a period of a month causing water usage to exceed the design daily flow and encourage failure.

It is also helpful to review usage. For instance, it is beneficial to do laundry over a period of days, rather than al on a single day, to avoid large volumes of water entering the system at one time. Try to only wash full loads to conserve total water usage.

Not all connections are the same…

Some water sources should NOT be connected to your onsite wastewater treatment system. This includes water from footing drains, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, roof drains, ice machines, drinking water treatment systems, or other clear water wastes. A water softener can unnecessarily add many gallons of water to the system. Softener discharge may be disposed of in a subsurface location away from the onsite system. Laundry waste must be discharged to the onsite system and not to the ground surface.

Homeowners should also check their property to assure that rain or surface run-off does not stand or collect in depressions over and around the onsite system. If depressions have formed over absorption field trenches, you should consult with a registered installer or health department environmentalist regarding procedures for filling these areas to avoid unnecessary saturation of your treatment system.

How can I avoid damage to my septic system?

The soil is the single most critical factor in the treatment of sewage. Soils developed over centuries of weathering, but can also be damaged in a matter of seconds. Compaction and resultant loss of soil structure are the greatest problems. Vehicles such as cars and trucks should not be driven over the treatment area because of damage to the soil and system piping can occur leading to premature failure and needless repair expense.

Blacktop, concrete, out-buildings, swimming pools, and other structures built or placed over the treatment area interfere with or prevent system operation and make repair/replacement difficult. All such construction must be avoided to prolong system operation. Water loving trees and shrubs are a common source of problems. Their roots may block distribution lines so the portions of the system are removed from use resulting in premature failure of the system. Evergreen shrubs and plants having tap root may actually be beneficial to onsite treatment systems as they absorb and transpire water year round. The health department does not recommend planting evergreens in or over the absorption area. If this type of shrub is desirable plant only at the edges of your system. Keep the dripline of the mature plant at least five (5) fee from the system components.

Lawn irrigation systems can also damage your absorption area and effect the operation of the system. Law requires that all water lines be at least 10 feet away from the septic system. Irrigation systems place an additional water load on the absorption area.

Potential damage may be caused through disruption of absorption trenches with the installation of sprinkler lines. This also increases the potential for contamination of groundwater. Under no circumstances may a water well, of any type, be located closer than 50 feet to a septic system.

Don’t wait until it is too late...

Your septic system should not be “out of sight, out of mind”. Failure to care for this system may cause premature failure and expense. Too often, we hear, “Oh, I haven’t had to pump my tank for 14 years”. The point is when you have to pump, the damage has been done and it may be too late. Preventative maintenance by pumping accumulated solids every three to five years may increase the life of the absorption field by preventing soil conditions that may lead to premature failure and thus prolonging the necessity of replacement.

If solids are allowed to accumulate, they may be carried over into the absorption trenches, resulting in clogging of the soil pores, possibly causing premature failure. It you have a large system, or any system that incorporates an alternating valve; we suggest that you switch your valve to the resting portion of the system annually.

Homeowners should not utilize their systems for disposal of large amounts of anti-bacterial agents or non-biodegradable materials such as grease, cloth, plastic, or rubber. Antibacterial soaps can be used in moderation. Chlorine bleach is an acceptable substitute as a sanitizer Garbage disposals increase the amount of solids that enter your septic tank, and depending upon use, increase the need to pump the septic tank. The health department recommends annual pumping of the septic tank when garbage disposals are routinely used.

Septic tanks with outlet filters require more frequent servicing (filter cleaning) to assure proper operation of the filter.

The Care and Feeding of Onsite Septic Systems

Content courtesy of Farmer Tank, Inc.

2024