| When you buy a car, you are given an owner's | | | | inspected through the manhole cover, not the |
| manual with instructions on how to care for your car. | | | | inspection pipe. Your septic contractor should also |
| Septic systems can cost as much or more than a | | | | install an effluent filter in the exit baffle of the tank. |
| car, unfortunately nobody gives you a manual when | | | | Effluent filters stop the larger solids from getting out |
| they are installed. Some people don't even know | | | | to the drainfield. They are cleaned out every few |
| they have a septic system! As a result, many septic | | | | years when you have your tank pumped. They are |
| systems fail unnecessarily. | | | | usually only about $80. Effluent filters are cheap |
| The Price for Failure is Steep | | | | insurance and along with a washing machine filter, one |
| The price for failure is steep in two way. More than | | | | of the best things you can do to protect your |
| 1200 people in the US die each year from | | | | system. |
| contaminated water, and failing septic systems are a | | | | 4. Use of Household Cleaning Products |
| leading source of waterborne disease outbreaks in | | | | Excessive use of these products can contribute to |
| the country today. In a 2000 EPA report, 31 states | | | | septic system failure. If you do over 5 loads a week |
| listed septic systems as their second greatest | | | | containing bleach, problems could arise. Avoid |
| potential source of groundwater contamination. Septic | | | | powdered detergents as they contain plastic fillers |
| system replacement is also very expensive, with | | | | that can plug up your lines and drain field. Also, be |
| costs often running from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. | | | | careful with harsh automatic toilet bowl cleaners, |
| Fortunately, there are some highly effective, | | | | which have put quite a few systems out of |
| ineffective steps you can take to eliminate this | | | | commission. |
| problem. Before discussing solutions, let's look at why | | | | 5. Should I Use a Separate System for My Washing |
| septic systems fail. | | | | Machine? |
| Septic system maintenance is actually pretty easy to | | | | Some people say you should use a separate system |
| understand. When a system fails, the tank itself | | | | for your washing machine, called a laundry |
| doesn't fail- the drainfield soil fails. In most cases the | | | | interceptor. However, this is not necessary and in |
| soil fails when it gets plugged up with solids and won't | | | | fact undesirable. Washing machines should discharge |
| allow liquid to pass through it. For example, it can get | | | | into the regular system because it actually works |
| plugged with solids from the tank if the tank hasn't | | | | better than discharging into its own system. In order |
| been pumped, or with lint from a washing machine. | | | | to work, septic systems require bacteria colonies |
| Now for your solutions: | | | | which break down biodegradable matter. These |
| 1. Use a washing machine filter. | | | | bacteria require "food" which is found in our |
| Did you know that washing machines are a leading | | | | wastewater, but not in detergent. Without "food" |
| cause of septic system failure? The primary culprit is | | | | these bacteria colonies die out and the system fails. |
| lint generated by washing machines, which clogs the | | | | Many people who have installed these systems have |
| soil in drain fields. Did you know that a typical family | | | | found this out the hard way. A research project |
| washing machine produces enough lint each year to | | | | conducted in several east coast states utilized some |
| carpet and entire living room floor! Lint screens and | | | | rather high tech systems for washing machine |
| nylon traps found in hardware stores trap 5% or less | | | | discharge and many began failing in as little as eight |
| of these particles. Because they are so light and | | | | months. |
| small, the lint particles do not settle out in the septic | | | | Maintenance Tips: |
| tank. Instead, they stay in suspension and are flushed | | | | Do: divert surface runoff water from roofs, patios, |
| out to the drain field, where they plug up the pores | | | | driveways and other areas away from your drainfield. |
| of the soil bed. | | | | Have your septic tank pumped regularly. It should |
| To compound the problem, much of our clothing is | | | | also be inspected for leaks, cracks and to make sure |
| now manufactured with synthetic materials such as | | | | the exit baffle is in place. |
| polyester and nylon. These substances are not | | | | Install lint and effluent filters. |
| biodegradable, and will not break down in a septic | | | | Spread out your laundry loads. |
| system. Instead, they accumulate and plug the soil. | | | | Compost your garbage or put it in the trash |
| Once these materials enter the soil, there is no way | | | | Don't: |
| to remove them. | | | | Use a garbage disposal. |
| The good news is that lint can be prevented from | | | | These appliances normally double the amount of |
| entering the septic system through the use of a | | | | solids added to the tank! |
| reusable, inline filter which attaches to your washing | | | | Flush sanitary napkins, disposable diapers or other |
| machine discharge hose. The filter, called the Filtrol | | | | non-biodegradable products into your system. |
| 160, retails for $139.95. | | | | Dump solvents, oils, paint thinners, disinfectants, |
| 2. Avoid Excessive Water Use | | | | pesticides or poisons down the drain as they can |
| You can also damage your septic system by doing a | | | | disrupt the treatment process and contaminate the |
| large number of laundry loads in a short period of | | | | groundwater. |
| time. In standard septic systems, solid materials settle | | | | Dig in your drainfield or build anything over it. |
| in the tank, while effluent flows out into the ground. | | | | Drive over your drainfield or compact the soil in any |
| If you put more water into the system than it is built | | | | way. |
| to handle, the high volume of water will flood your | | | | Plant trees or shrubbery close to the septic system, |
| system, and can also stir up and flush solids out of | | | | because the roots can get in the lines and plug them. |
| the tank into the drain field (in fact, septic pumpers | | | | Grass is the only thing that should be planted on or |
| use water from their hoses to help break up solids in | | | | near a drainfield. |
| your tank before pumping them out). A typical | | | | If Your System Fails |
| washing machine can use up to 60 gallons of water | | | | In quite a few cases, a tune-up can fix your system |
| per wash load. On a heavy day you can easily put | | | | and you can avoid the high costs of replacing the |
| 400, 500 or 600 gallons of water through the system | | | | system. This tuneup includes properly pumping the |
| in a few hours. The solution is to spread out your | | | | tank, cleaning (jetting) the drainfield lines, and installing |
| water use. Do one or two loads of laundry per day, | | | | washing machine and effluent filters. If these |
| rather than 10-12 loads on Saturday morning. Water | | | | measures are not sufficient, some failed systems can |
| softeners can also damage your system by putting | | | | be rejuvenated by fracturing the soil. This process |
| too much water through the septic system. These | | | | utilizes a hollow tube inserted into the soil, then a 300 |
| devices can put several hundred gallons of water | | | | pound blast or air is injected into the soil creating |
| down the dr!ain every week, water that is not | | | | thousands of tiny fissures. These fissures allow the |
| contaminated and does not need to go through the | | | | drainfield to drain, creating an oxygen atmosphere |
| treatment process. | | | | and the aerobic bacterial colonies to repopulate. |
| There are a couple solutions to this problem. You can | | | | Aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen, typically live |
| upgrade your softener with a newer efficient model | | | | in the top 26 inches of the drainfield and process |
| that uses less water and regenerates on demand, | | | | waste much more quickly than anaerobic bacteria. |
| instead of a timer system that regenerates whether | | | | This process can be performed in a matter of hours |
| you use water or not. You can also install a mini | | | | with no digging or damage to the yard. One company |
| septic system for your water softener. | | | | which performs this service is Terralift International ( |
| 3. Prevent Solids from Leaving the Tank | | | | If you have a clay soil which has become plugged |
| First of all, you should get your tank pumped on a | | | | due to sodium from wastewater binding with the |
| regular basis to prevent excessive accumulation of | | | | clay, Septic Seep can help. These product releases |
| solids in the tank. Under normal conditions, you should | | | | sodium bonded clays and reopens soil, restoring |
| have the tank inspected and pumped every 1-3 | | | | passages air and water. It also has the benefit of |
| years. Very important: tanks should be pumped and | | | | dispersing greases and scums that clog the soil. |