Even for the people who live on this property, it's easy to forget that beneath this soil,
an on-site sewage treatment system is working around the clock, every day, year in and year
out.
It's easy to forget because it all happens down there, out of sight.
Other than an inspection pipe or perhaps a manhole cover, there's very little evidence
of a septic tank, and whether the soil treatment area is located below ground or incorporated
into a mound, it too is pretty much concealed in the landscape.
But for the property owner who depends on this type of system for safe and effective
sewage treatment, out of sight shouldn't mean out of mind.
Just like other types of valuable equipment that require servicing in order to stay in
good, reliable operating condition, a septic system needs periodic attention and maintenance
to continue to work the way it was designed.
And like most neglected equipment, a poorly maintained septic system can be dangerous
to operate and very costly to replace if it fails.
Understanding how an on-site sewage treatment system works and what must be done to keep
it working safely are the keys to avoiding these problems.
A well-maintained septic system is a hidden investment, not only in dollars, but in peace
as well.
Hello, Russ.
Hi, Lori.
How are things going here?
Well, as you can see, the installation of this new system is moving right along.
The tank is in place, and the drain pipes for the soil treatment area are just about
to be connected.
One nice thing about visiting a site like this is that it's an opportunity to really
see the septic system.
Which won't be the case here much longer.
I know these folks are anxious to have this job finished since the house isn't habitable
until the sewage treatment system is in place.
It's one of those things people really can't live without.
The fact of life is that wherever people live, sewage and wastewater are generated.
Raw sewage is a nasty brew of sludges and scum, teeming with disease-causing microbes
called pathogens.
Chemicals from household cleaners and heavy metals from things like makeup and plumbing
pipes may also be present in wastewater.
Both sewage and wastewater contain high levels of nutrients that are harmful to people and
the environment.
Obviously, these things cannot simply be flushed or drained into the environment.
Solids must be removed and stored.
Pathogens, chemicals, and nutrients must be broken down or destroyed.
These processes of separation, storage, and cleansing of sewage and wastewater are collectively
described by a single term, treatment.
Most people who live in towns and cities are connected to a municipal treatment system
in which sewage and wastewater are funneled to a wastewater treatment plant.
People living in areas without access to municipal treatment own, operate, and maintain their
own on-site mini treatment plants, their septic systems.
Being connected to a municipal treatment system may offer property owners a certain
convenience, but there is no second best when it comes to sewage treatment.
The fact is, the treatment provided by a well-designed and properly operating septic system is just
as good, if not better, as from a municipal treatment plant.
The emphasis here is a well-designed and properly operating system.
As Russ pointed out, a site like this where everything is still exposed is a great place
to take a look at how a septic system is designed and how it operates, but the process actually
begins elsewhere with the twist of a tap.
The first component of an on-site treatment system is the plumbing.
Every time we turn on the faucet or flush the toilet, wastewater and everything carried
with it, soap and dirt, grease and detergent, toilet paper and dead goldfish are collected
through a network of drains and pipes and funneled into the septic tank.
The septic tank is the first step in the treatment process and the place where the separation
of solids occurs.
In this watertight tank, the bacteria naturally present in sewage begin to break down the
solids.
Gravity causes the contents of the tank to settle and separate into three distinct layers.
Heavier, organic and inorganic solids slowly sink to the bottom and form a sludge layer.
Lighter components such as greases, soaps and toilet paper float to the top, forming
a layer of scum, and the remaining liquid layer will transport pathogens, nutrients
and suspended solids to the soil treatment area.
The solid layers remain stored in the septic tank until they can be removed by cleaning.
The physical features of the septic tank include an inlet baffle that ensures entering wastewater
mixes with the liquid contents of the tank while also preventing scum from floating back
and clogging the inlet pipe.
Similarly, an outlet baffle keeps scum from leaving the tank and entering the soil treatment
area.
When the tank is functioning properly, it is filled with liquid to the bottom of the
outlet pipe.
Pipes can be equipped with filters, which help keep solids from entering and damaging
the drain field.
Now they install into the exit baffle of your septic tank or others catch fibers from your
washing machine.
Talk to your septic contractor or county zoning official to see if they would benefit you.
Inspection pipes are located just above the baffles and are used to inspect the inlet,
outlet and baffles.
Clogs to these areas can be unplugged through these openings, but the pipe should not be
used for cleaning or pumping the tank.
A manhole on the cover of the tank is designed for these purposes.
With all the gases and pathogens churning around in the septic tank, it goes without
saying that during use, the inspection pipes must remain capped.
If the caps have been broken or removed, they must be replaced, not just plugged or covered.
New caps specifically designed for this purpose are readily available.
The manhole on a septic tank is usually buried beneath the soil, but if it is exposed, the
lids should be properly secured.
The final element in the septic system is the soil treatment area.
A single handful of loose, unsaturated soil can contain over 50 million bacteria.
In the pathogen, a nutrient-rich soup from the septic tank is a four-star meal for these
hungry microbes.
Because these beneficial soil bacteria need air to survive, it is critical that the ground
is not saturated with water during any part of the year.
The mechanism for soil treatment is completely natural.
Liquid sewage from the septic tank is piped to a drain field and allowed to seep into
the soil.
There are several methods of dispersing the liquid.
A common way is through a layer of crushed rock.
Where the liquid meets the soil, a layer of fine solids, dead bacteria, and soil bacteria
will form.
This is called a biomat.
The biomat plays an important role in regulating how fast the liquid passes into the soil and
ensures that the soil does not become saturated.
After the liquid is percolated through the biomat and then through three to four feet
of unsaturated soil, pathogens will have been destroyed, solids will have been filtered
out, and nutrients will have been absorbed or diluted.
The sewage has now been fully treated and harmless water is recycled back into the environment.
There are two basic types of drain fields.
The geography and the soil conditions of the property will determine which should be used.
As we've seen, an effective soil treatment area requires three to four feet of unsaturated
soil below the drain field.
On lots where these soil conditions are met, the most economical type of treatment system
is a simple rock-filled trench or network of trenches.
It is important to remember, however, that the soil must remain unsaturated year round.
In places where soil conditions aren't so favorable, the drain field can be incorporated
into an artificial mound.
Mounds are typically raised with clean sand to provide the proper separation between the
drain field and the saturated soil.
When gravity alone is not enough to move liquids from the septic tank to the drain field, a
situation that's typical of mounds, a lift station that utilizes a small pump is a final
important component of the septic system.
We looked at how the basic septic system is set up and at the simple and effective process
it uses to treat wastewater.
Unfortunately, because of neglect or abuse, not all septic systems work the way they were
designed.
When a system allows untreated sewage to seep or leak into the environment, we say that
it's failed.
When this happens, the property owner is faced with a major health threat, not to mention
a potential financial disaster.
To find out more about why septic systems fail and the ramifications of a failed system,
I met with a professional in the field of wastewater treatment.
When I look at failing systems or when I get asked about failing systems, probably the
number one cause is that they get too much water.
That is that we expect them to handle more water than they can handle.
That is either I use too much water inside the home or my system leaks, so I add water
that way, all of a sudden I have a system that is not able to handle the water that
I've added to it.
The second reason that I see failures is that I don't take care of it.
None of our systems take care of themselves.
The last thing in terms of failure is that I made bad decisions in the system that I
chose or the guy that I hired to build it didn't fall through in terms of doing the
stuff that he needed to do.
The problems with failing systems is, number one, if it fails to the surface, I end up
with sewage sitting in my backyard.
Sewage can make people sick.
The second problem is just as bad, and that is if I have a system that maybe wasn't the
right type of system, I end up now with sewage entering the groundwater.
The problem there is that that groundwater ends up somewhere.
It either feeds our lakes and streams or it comes back into the house through the well.
The other ramification of a failed system is just straight and simple, that it costs
me more money.
When I have a problem with my system, I have to replace it.
I have to fix it.
I get to deal with that myself, so it costs me money.
So by taking care of these other things, I can save money because I don't have to invest
more money.
The thing that's exciting to me is that it can be a long-term system if I take care of
the pieces of it.
So by making a little investment in terms of maintenance, making a little investment
in terms of watching water use, I end up with a big benefit in terms of not having to fix
or repair or replace my system.
The pitfalls of a failed system, disease, contamination, and large out-of-pocket expenses
can usually be avoided by practicing preventative maintenance.
In fact, the benefits of care applied to one part of the septic system will often compound
throughout the entire system.
Sometimes this is simply a matter of developing some good habits, like using less water.
The septic system uses water to operate, but there can be too much of a good thing.
Anytime water is added to the system, the same amount of water already in the septic
tank is pushed to the drain field.
If new water is constantly being added, the septic tank won't have time to do its job.
Large amounts of water entering the system in a short period of time can cause the contents
of the tank to become agitated.
When this happens, solids may be forced into the soil treatment area, destroying its ability
to complete the treatment process and causing the system to fail.
Overloading a system like this is one of the most preventable reasons for septic system
failure.
The solution can be summed up in two words, water conservation.
Contrary to what some might think, water conservation does not mean deprivation or sacrifice.
It means efficiency.
Most people would be amazed by how much water is used just in normal daily tasks and how
much of that water could be saved and not flooded through the septic system simply by
adopting a few water-wise habits and outfitting our homes with newer, water-efficient fixtures
and appliances.
For a short course in how to use water more efficiently in every part of the home, I consulted
an expert in this area.
What people may not realize is that you don't have to be running a hotel to overload a septic
system.
The fact is the water use habits of even an average family, especially one with kids can
easily overburden a system.
This is why using water wisely is so important.
Wise water use starts in the bathroom because in a typical household, at least two-thirds
of the water used is washed down the drain or flushed down the toilet.
Replacing older toilets with a new low-flush model will save up to five gallons every time
you flush, actually more if your old toilet leaked.
New low-flush water-conserving models use 1.6 gallons to flush where an old standard
toilet uses five to seven gallons, and of course, reducing the number of flushes will
make a big difference.
To fill a bathtub takes about five gallons for every inch, and if you shower with a standard
shower head, five gallons for each minute.
This amount can be instantly cut in half by installing a low-flow shower head.
Other ways to conserve while showering are taking shorter showers or turning off the
water while soaping up.
Don't forget, leaky faucets as well as running the water while brushing teeth or washing
hands is also wasteful.
In the kitchen, letting the faucet run is commonplace, as we often do washing fruits
and vegetables, rinsing dishes, or running water to drink.
Flow restrictors for faucets are inexpensive, easy to install, and they will save a lot
of water.
These range from simple aerators that fit inside the faucet to variable flow models
that can really cut down on the water used for kitchen chores.
Other dishwashers use around 12 to 15 gallons per cycle, while the newer ones use six to
nine gallons per cycle.
Running full loads will save a lot of water, both in the kitchen and in the laundry room.
A front-loading washing machine uses significantly less water per load than a top-loading washer.
However, a sud-saver feature on a top-loader will also save water by allowing you to reuse
most of the water from the wash fill.
We can also conserve water by making sure the water level on the washer is set to match
the size of the load to be washed, or by simply cutting down the number of loads.
Spreading out the loads over several days rather than doing everything at the same time
will also help ease the burden on the septic system.
By making these kinds of positive changes in the way we use water, we will benefit both
in the short term with lower monthly water costs, and in the long term by promoting a
long-lasting and properly working septic system.
Using less water is excellent preventative medicine against a failed system, but water
isn't the only thing that goes down drains.
Many household products used in daily living are also funneled through the system.
Controlling how we use these products is another way our daily routines can be easily adjusted
to benefit the septic system.
Soaps and detergents are a good example.
Dishwasher soaps and laundry detergents are a big source of nutrients that can cause real
problems both for the system and the environment.
Low or no phosphate products are available that will clean just as well without helping
lakes to turn green.
Liquid soaps and detergents should be used whenever possible.
Powdered products add fine particles that can cause sludges to build up more quickly,
and of course use only the amount of soaps needed to get the job done.
This is often less than the manufacturer's recommendation.
Household cleaners and disinfectants are effective because they kill bacteria.
But the bacteria scattered throughout the septic system are an essential part of the
treatment process.
For this reason, try to minimize adding these products into the system.
This means avoiding toilet cleaners that regularly release disinfectants into the tank or bowl.
Solvents and paints and other common household chemicals also kill beneficial bacteria and
can pass through the system to contaminate groundwater.
Never pour things like these down a drain.
And never drain grease or flush cigarettes or any other kind of garbage down the toilet.
These solids don't belong in the septic system and cannot be broken down or treated.
Smart management practices like conserving water and controlling what goes down the drain
will help safeguard a septic system, but it mustn't stop there.
As we mentioned, a septic system is really a mini-treatment plant, and part of the responsibility
of owning and operating such a system is maintaining it.
In fact, the way the septic tank is designed requires regular maintenance.
Remember, the tank treats solids by separating and storing sludge and scum.
Unless these solids are periodically cleaned out, they will accumulate until they begin
to interfere with the treatment process.
Eventually, solids may be forced into the drain field, causing significant and often
irreparable damage.
Just like a car isn't designed to keep working without ever changing the oil, a septic tank
won't keep working without periodic cleaning.
But how often should a tank be cleaned?
Like oil in a car, this depends on how much and how hard the system is used.
On average, the typical septic tank will need to be cleaned every 18 to 30 months.
The amount of water a household uses, the number of people in the home, the septic tank
capacity, the type of appliances in the house.
These are some of the factors that will determine whether the tank needs to be cleaned more
or less frequently.
There's more to cleaning a tank than simply pumping out the contents.
Cleaning must be done right or it can have ineffective, even negative, consequences.
Only a licensed professional should be hired to do the job.
To learn about the specifics of cleaning and more about tank maintenance in general, I
talked with someone with a lot of experience.
Cleaning means removing all the solids and sludge from the septic tank.
Any solids left in the tank could plug your baffle or be forced out in the drain field
when the tank refills.
Cleaning, flushing, and back flushing liquids back and forth between the pumping truck and
the septic tank will break up solids so they can be cleaned out.
Cleaning must be done through the manhole, never through the inspection pipes.
It may be easier to get to the tank that way, but it's an impossible way to get a good cleaning
and a good way to damage tank baffles.
Cleaning through the manhole also allows a thorough inspection of the tank.
This is an important part of any cleaning because it can catch serious problems like
damaged baffles or roots breaking into the tank.
The cost of having a tank pumped may be one reason people put it up, but it's relatively
inexpensive compared to having a tank replaced or repaired due to improper maintenance.
Another reason might be the problem determining when to clean or how long since the last cleaning.
For these people, contracts can be set up where the contractor determines a regular
cleaning schedule.
I get asked a lot about the commercial additives that are available for septic tanks.
There's no such thing as a safe and effective septic system additue.
The additives that are safe in the environment probably won't clean the septic tank.
They do clean the septic tank, they're not safe in the environment.
The fact of the matter is there's no substitute for proper maintenance.
Now what about maintenance for the soil treatment area?
We've seen how overloading the system with water can drive solids from the septic tank
into the soil treatment area and cause it to fail.
We've also talked about the importance of having unsaturated soil in the drain field
because the soil organisms that treat sewage need air to survive.
But there's still some new ground here to cover.
Compaction is another way that air is removed from soil.
For this reason, it is important to keep heavy machinery, particularly vehicles, off a drain
field or any property set aside for future drain field expansion.
This is especially true in winter when even the weight of a person can cause freezing
deep in the soil.
Finally, with either a mound or trench type drain field, a good cover of vegetation should
be established.
Plants will help absorb the nutrients in the treatment area.
Mowing will encourage grasses, but water and fertilizers should not be applied.
And although vegetable gardens and trees or other plants with deep roots should not be
planted on the soil treatment area, these areas do offer creative landscaping opportunities
that can significantly enhance the aesthetic value of property.
The cost of having a tank pump may be one reason people put a lot, but it's relatively
inexpensive compared to having a tank replaced or repaired due to improper maintenance.
By making these kinds of positive changes in the way we use water, we will benefit both
in the short term with lower monthly water costs and in the long term by promoting a
long lasting and properly working septic system.
The thing that's exciting to me is that it can be a long term system if I take care of
the pieces of it.
So by making a little investment in terms of maintenance, making a little investment
in terms of watching water use, I end up with a big benefit in terms of not having to fix,
repair, replace my system.
Water conservation, regular maintenance, investing for the future.
These ideas are really just common sense.
But when applied to an on-site sewage treatment system, they are also a successful management
strategy.
To guide property owners as they apply these principles, a number of state and local agencies
have produced a series of fact sheets outlining the best management practices for shore land,
including septic system insulation and maintenance.
The Septic System Owner's Guide is a booklet with a lot of information about how a septic
system works and how it should be maintained, including a worksheet that can be used to calculate
how often a particular septic tank should be pumped.
As these resources will illustrate, a properly functioning septic system works in harmony
with the environment to provide excellent and economical sewage treatment.
At the same time, our property values, our health, and our peace of mind are preserved.
It's up to us to keep it that way.
There's a lot invested down there.
A lot more than meets the eye.